Rescue teams in Nigeria’s Sokoto State are racing against time to locate over 40 people missing after a passenger boat capsized on Sunday morning. The vessel, carrying more than 50 individuals to a local market, sank amid rising water levels during the rainy season, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). At least 10 people have been rescued so far.
This incident highlights recurring safety challenges on Nigeria’s waterways, where overcrowding and inadequate maintenance frequently lead to fatal accidents. Sokoto State alone has witnessed multiple tragedies this year, including the deaths of 16 farmers in August 2024 when their canoe overturned en route to rice fields. Similar accidents in Jigawa and Niger States claimed 6 and 13 lives respectively in July.
NEMA officials emphasized the heightened risks during the rainy season, when swollen rivers and lakes test the limits of aging vessels. While rescue operations continue, authorities urge stricter enforcement of waterway regulations to prevent future disasters.
