At least 52 bodies have been buried following a boat accident in Gorau town, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State, with 11 members of one family reportedly among the victims.

The boat, which was carrying more than 70 farmers and workers to their rice farms, capsized at about 8:30am on Wednesday while crossing a waterway.

Several children were reportedly among the passengers, with most of them said to be girls.

The Head of Operations of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Sokoto, Alhaji Tukur Abubakar, confirmed that 52 bodies had so far been buried but said the exact number of victims had yet to be established.

“We are about to meet with officials of the sister agency and the local government officials to know the exact number of the victims,” Abubakar said.

He said further details would be provided after the meeting with relevant authorities.

The spokesperson of the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Abdullahi Ghani, also confirmed that officials were at the scene assessing the situation and working to determine the number of people affected.

“Right now all the concerned authorities are there assessing the situation, trying to know the exact number of the affected persons. No official data yet,” the agency said.

Rescue operations continued as of the time of filing this report, with local divers and residents searching the waterway for survivors and those still missing.

Village Head Recounts Narrow Escape

The village head of Gorau, Malam Aliyu Na-Batsami, who survived the accident, said more than 70 people were on board the boat when it capsized in the middle of the waterway.

“There were more than 70 of us in the boat. Most of us were farmers going to our farms to work. There were also children among us, most of them girls,” he said.

Na-Batsami said he struggled to remain afloat after the boat overturned before grabbing a sack that had floated to the surface.

“By God’s grace, some people who had entered the water eventually rescued me,” he said.

He said the accident had caused a devastating loss of lives in the community, adding that one household lost 11 children.

“There is one household that lost 11 children. But I did not lose anyone from my household because my children had already crossed the river before the incident,” he said.

The traditional ruler explained that he had remained behind to attend to some community responsibilities, including naming ceremonies and dispute resolution, before heading to the farm.

A resident who participated in the rescue operation, Mallam Ya’u ECG, said the boat developed a fault shortly after leaving the shore, causing it to capsize.

Another resident, Usman Yusuf Shanka, said he lost his younger brother’s wife, Jamila Aminu, and her two children, Yasir Aminu and Sani Aminu.

He also identified Umar Muhammad, another child from the family, among those who died.

Shanka appealed to the government to provide a safer means of transportation for farmers who depend on the waterway to reach their farmlands.

“We are calling on the government to take action on the dam by providing a safer means of crossing, including constructing a bridge, because farmers have to pass through this place to reach their farms,” he said.

Attahiru Iliyasu, another resident involved in the rescue operation, also said several of his relatives, including his nephew, were among the victims.

Lawmaker Blames Overcrowding

The member representing Goronyo Constituency in the Sokoto State House of Assembly, Nasiru Adamu, attributed the accident to overcrowding.

Adamu said the boat operator told him that he had attempted to prevent passengers from overcrowding the vessel but was ignored.

“When we asked him why he allowed over 70 people to board the boat, he said he did his best to stop them from overcrowding the boat, but they refused to follow his instructions,” the lawmaker said.

He urged residents to exercise caution when using waterways and avoid overloading boats.

“A similar accident occurred last year in a place called Kojo, also in Goronyo, where many lives were lost,” he said.

Sokoto Govt Had Distributed Boats, Life Jackets

The latest tragedy comes despite an earlier intervention by the Sokoto State Government aimed at improving safety in communities that depend on waterways.

Last year, the government distributed 20 motorised boats and 2,000 life jackets to communities that rely on waterways for transportation and access to farms, markets and neighbouring settlements.

The distribution took place during a ceremony in Dundaye village, Wamakko Local Government Area, where Governor Ahmed Aliyu said the initiative was intended to protect residents who depend on waterways for their daily activities.

Aliyu said the intervention followed concerns over boat accidents in parts of the state that had resulted in loss of lives and destruction of property.

The governor also warned boat operators against overloading and directed chairmen of benefiting local government areas to ensure proper maintenance and security of the boats.

However, Adamu said the intervention had not reached Gorau.

“Gorau had not received the engine-powered boats and life jackets reportedly purchased and distributed by the Sokoto State Government to communities located along waterways,” he said.

Meanwhile, rescue efforts are continuing as authorities work to establish the exact number of people who were on board the boat and determine the number of victims still missing.