How Sokoto boat tragedy left 46 dead, 16 missing

A boat accident in Gorau community, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State, has left at least 46 people dead, while 15 passengers were rescued alive and 16 others remained missing as rescue operations continued.

The boat, which was carrying 77 passengers, including farmers, women and children, reportedly capsized shortly after departing the community on Thursday morning.

The spokesman for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmed Rufai, confirmed the incident, saying rescue teams were still searching for 16 passengers who remained missing as of the time of filing this report.

Rufai said the ongoing search-and-rescue operation involved local divers, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the police.

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“Forty-six corpses have so far been recovered, while 15 persons were rescued alive. The rescue team, comprising local divers, NEMA, SEMA and the Police, is still searching for the remaining 16 persons,” he said.

He added that 77 people were on board the boat when the accident occurred.

The tragedy has plunged Gorau community into mourning, with families anxiously awaiting information about relatives who may still be missing.

A resident of the community, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the passengers were travelling towards their farms when the boat capsized on Thursday morning.

He said local divers immediately joined the rescue operation, with several bodies subsequently recovered from the water.

The resident appealed to authorities to intensify the search, saying many families were still waiting for updates on their loved ones.

A senior NEMA official, who identified himself as Alhaji Ibrahim, also confirmed the agency’s mobilisation to the affected community.

“Our officials are currently on their way to the community to join the rescue operation,” he said.

The cause of the accident had yet to be established as rescue operations continued.

The incident has also renewed concerns over the safety of water transportation in riverine farming communities in Sokoto, coming exactly one year after a similar boat accident in Kijio community, also in Goronyo LGA.