Tragedy in Sokoto state, in north-west Nigeria, where an overloaded boat capsized causing the death of dozens of people. Among the victims there would be mainly children: around 40 bodies have been recovered so far, while search operations continue.
Because we cannot talk about fatality
The still provisional balance was confirmed by Abdulkadir Yusuf, local manager of the National Inland Waterways Authority, the Nigerian authority for inland waterways. “I can confirm that around 40 children’s bodies have been recovered so far,” he told Reuters.
The accident occurred on the morning of Thursday 20 August. According to Sarkin Daji, a traditional leader in the area, the passengers of the boat were headed towards the rice fields, where they were supposed to work on planting or harvesting.
Rescue operations began immediately after the shipwreck. The divers in the area also intervened and recovered the bodies of the victims. Research is still underway and it is therefore not excluded that the toll could worsen.
Accidents involving boats are relatively frequent in Nigeria, where in several areas of the country river transport takes place with overloaded vehicles or in precarious safety conditions. Last January alone, at least 25 people died in the north-eastern state of Yobe after a boat taking on water capsized.