About 40 people are feared dead after a boat carrying farmers and labourers to their rice farms capsized in Gorau town, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The incident occurred while the victims were crossing a stream to access their farms, with most of those on board reportedly children between the ages of 10 and 15.

An eyewitness said more than 70 people were on the boat when it capsized shortly after leaving the shore.

The village head was among those on board but was reportedly rescued alongside five other people.

“So far, we have recovered about 40 bodies, while six people, including the village head, were rescued,” a local journalist who was at the scene, Sharhabilu Yahuza Kiliya, told our reporter.

According to him, the victims included farm owners and labourers engaged to assist with the rice harvest.

“The canoe capsized shortly after take-off. Rescue operations are still ongoing, with local divers searching for those still missing and recovering bodies,” he said.

The ongoing rescue operation is expected to determine the final number of casualties as divers continue searching the waterway for possible survivors and victims.