About 40 people are feared to have died after a boat carrying farmers and farm labourers to their rice farms capsized in Gorau town, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The victims were reportedly travelling across a stream to access their farms when the canoe overturned shortly after take-off.
Most of those on board were said to be children between the ages of 10 and 15 who had been travelling with farm owners and labourers engaged for the rice harvest.
A local journalist at the scene, Sharhabilu Yahuza Kiliya, said about 40 bodies had been recovered as of the latest update, while six people had been rescued.
Out of more than 70 people believed to have been on the boat when it capsized, we have so far recovered about 40 bodies, while six people, including the village head, were rescued, Kiliya said.
“The canoe capsized shortly after take-off. Rescue operations are still ongoing, with local divers searching for those still missing and recovering bodies,” he said.
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The circumstances surrounding the exact cause of the accident were not immediately clear. However, the large number of passengers reportedly travelling in a single canoe has raised concerns about the safety of local water transportation in the area.
Goronyo and other communities in Sokoto State have experienced deadly boat accidents in recent years, particularly involving farmers and traders who rely on waterways to reach farms and markets.
In August 2024, at least 16 farmers died after a wooden canoe carrying them to their rice fields capsized. The state has also recorded other major waterway accidents involving overcrowded wooden boats.
In one such incident in August 2025, a boat carrying more than 50 passengers, along with motorcycles and other goods, capsized in Goronyo Local Government Area.
The National Emergency Management Agency later said 25 people had been rescued and three bodies recovered, while more than 20 people remained unaccounted for at the time its search operation was concluded.
The recurring accidents have renewed concerns about overcrowding, the use of wooden canoes and inadequate adherence to waterway safety measures in rural communities.
For now, local divers and residents are continuing efforts to locate those still missing and recover more bodies from the water, as families and members of the affected community await further information on the fate of their relatives.
