Tragedy Strikes as Riverboat Capsizes in Northwestern Nigeria, Leaving 40 Missing

At least 40 people are missing and feared dead after a riverboat capsized in northwestern Nigeria.

The accident occurred on Sunday in the Goronyo area of Sokoto State while the vessel was carrying passengers to a local market, the National Emergency Management Agency confirmed.

Rescue officials said 10 people have been saved, while search operations continue in the area. Incidents of this kind are common during Nigeria’s rainy season, particularly in remote communities where boats are often overcrowded and poorly maintained.

Only last month, a similar tragedy struck in north-central Nigeria when a passenger boat overturned, claiming at least 25 lives. Figures from local news outlet TheCable show that 326 people died in boat accidents across the country last year.

Safety experts note that many boats still operate without life jackets and blame weak enforcement by regulatory authorities for the frequent loss of lives.