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Boat Capsizes in Northwestern Nigeria, Leaving Dozens of People Dead
At least 40 children were among the dead as local divers searched for missing passengers and recovered bodies, officials and residents said.
On Thursday, an overloaded boat capsized in Nigeria's northwestern Sokoto State, leaving 47 people dead according to the National Inland Waterways Authority.
The vessel was transporting passengers to farms for work in Gorau town when traditional leader Sarkin Daji said travelers were heading to plant or harvest rice on the Sokoto River.
Local resident Nasiru Gorau counted 42 bodies, mostly women and children, while Samaila Garba, 55, confirmed his 13-year-old granddaughter Jamila Usman was among the deceased.
Abdulkadir Yusuf, area manager of the National Inland Waterways Authority, confirmed, "I can confirm that so far around 40 corpses of children have been recovered."
Deadly boat accidents are common in Nigeria, where vessels often operate unsafely; in January, at least 25 people died when a leaking boat capsized in Yobe State.
Shipwrecks of boats in Nigeria on rivers and rivers are common, usually due to overcrowded boats, poor maintenance or non-compliance with safety rules.
An overloaded boat sinks shortly after departure on a river in northwestern Nigeria. According to estimates, there are at least 50 dead, most of which are women and children.