Dozens dead after boat capsizes in northwestern Nigeria

What the report says

At least dozens of people are feared dead after a boat capsized on a river in northwestern Nigeria, with the incident reported in Sokoto state near Gorau town in the Goronyo local government area. Al Jazeera, citing officials, residents and news agency reports, said the boat may have been carrying farm workers heading to fields, and rescue efforts were still under way on Thursday.

Authorities had not confirmed a final death toll at the time of publication. However, residents and witnesses described a rising casualty count: a Reuters witness saw around 50 bodies laid out at a mosque in Gorau before burial, while a former local councillor told AFP that 46 bodies had already been buried and more had been recovered from the river. A state emergency agency spokesman said responders were at the scene and gathering information.

People in the community said the disaster had affected many households, with one resident saying a family member was among the dead. The report also noted that boat accidents are a recurring hazard on Nigeria’s rivers and waterways, where overcrowding, poor vessel upkeep and weak safety compliance are often cited as contributing factors. Al Jazeera added that another boat accident occurred in Jigawa state last month, and a separate fatal capsizing was reported earlier in the year.