47 Dead After Boat Capsizes in Sokoto River, Mostly Women and Children

At least 47 people have died after an overloaded boat capsized in a river in Sokoto State on Thursday morning, officials confirmed.

The victims were residents of Gorau town in Goronyo Local Government Area who were on their way to farms when the tragedy occurred.

The boat was crossing a river in Goronyo LGA when it overturned. Passengers were mostly farmers heading to their fields for the day’s work.

Abdulkadir Yusuf, the Sokoto State Manager of the National Inland Waterways Authority, told the Associated Press that 47 bodies had been recovered “so far.” Search and rescue operations were ongoing as of Thursday evening.

Local residents said the number could rise as more bodies are found and missing persons are accounted for.

The incident has devastated Gorau community, where farming is the main source of livelihood, especially during the rainy season.

Resident Samaila Garba, 55, said his 13-year-old granddaughter, Jamila Usman, was among those who drowned.

He said he had personally counted at least 42 bodies, most of them women and children.You know, during the rainy season, most women and children go to the farm to work,” Garba told AP. “That is why so many of them were on that boat.”

Another resident, Aminu Dan Hajiya, said he uses the same waterway to get to his farm and considers himself fortunate to have missed the trip.

“In fact, almost every household in the community has been affected,” he said. “We lost mothers, daughters, and children.”

Boat accidents are common in northern Nigeria during the rainy season, from June to September. Rivers swell, currents become stronger, and many rural communities rely on poorly regulated boats to cross to farmlands.

The National Inland Waterways Authority has repeatedly warned against overloading, night travel, and the use of boats without life jackets. But in riverine farming communities like Gorau, there are often no alternative routes to reach fields on the other side of the water.

Officials say investigations will determine if overloading or bad weather contributed to Thursday’s capsize.

NIWA and the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency have deployed teams to the area to assist with recovery and to provide support to families of victims.

As of Thursday night, the Sokoto State Government had not released an official statement, but sources said the governor’s office was being briefed.

NIWA officials said they will work with local leaders to sensitize communities on water safety ahead of the peak of the rainy season.

“The death toll stands at 47 so far,” Yusuf said. “We are still searching and we urge people to avoid using unsafe boats.”

In Gorau, mourning has begun. Many families are preparing burials while still waiting for news of missing relatives.

The loss of so many women and children is expected to have a long-term impact on farming in the area. With the rainy season in full swing, many farms will now be left unattended.We go to farm because we have to eat,” Garba said. “But we should not have to risk our lives to do it.”

Boat mishaps have claimed hundreds of lives across Nigeria in recent years. In 2023 and 2024, similar incidents were reported in Niger, Kebbi, and Benue states, often with high casualties among women and children traveling to farms or markets.

Authorities continue to push for better regulation of inland water transport, but enforcement remains a challenge in remote areas.

For now, Gorau is grieving. The 47 confirmed dead represent parents, children, and breadwinners — a single community bearing a heavy loss