By Paul Joseph
About 40 people are feared dead after a boat carrying farmers and farm labourers capsized in Gorau town, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The victims were reportedly crossing a stream to reach their rice farms when the canoe overturned shortly after take-off.
According to reports, more than 70 people were aboard the boat at the time of the incident, with many of the passengers said to be children between the ages of 10 and 15.
The village head was among those travelling on the boat and was reportedly rescued alongside five other passengers.
A local journalist who was at the scene, Sharhabilu Yahuza Kiliya, said about 40 bodies had been recovered while rescue operations continued.
“So far, we have recovered about 40 bodies, while six people, including the village head, were rescued,” Kiliya said.
The victims were said to include farm owners and labourers engaged to harvest rice in the area.
Kiliya added that local divers were still searching the water for those who remained missing and recovering bodies from the scene.
The incident has thrown the community into mourning as rescue teams and residents continue efforts to determine the full number of casualties.
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