At least 40 children have died after an overloaded boat capsized in Sokoto state, northwestern Nigeria, as rescue teams continue to search for bodies and fear the death toll could rise.
About 40 children’s bodies have been recovered from the scene, said Abdulkadir Yusuf, a local Inland Navigation Authority official.
The accident occurred in the morning in Gorau area of Goronio local government area, when the boat was transporting farmers, families and workers to rice fields in the area.
According to residents and local sources, the boat was said to be carrying more than 70 passengers and capsized shortly after its departure, while crossing a stream to reach the fields where the passengers were to participate in planting and harvesting rice.
Worryingly, most of those on board were reportedly children aged between 10 and 15, who were travelling with their families and other workers.
Divers and residents continue to search for missing people, while authorities are trying to determine the exact number of people on board the boat.
According to local journalist Sarhambilou Yahouza Kilia, who was at the scene, six people were rescued, including the village head, who was reportedly also a passenger on the boat.
“So far, we have found about 40 bodies, while six people, including the village head, have been rescued,” he said. Rescue operations are at their peak, with divers searching for survivors and bodies, and there are fears the death toll could rise.
Deadly boat sinkings are common in Nigeria, where many vessels travel overloaded and with inadequate safety measures. In January, at least 25 people died when a boat capsized in Yobe state, in northeastern Nigeria.