At least 16 people are missing and presumed dead after a boat capsized in Nigeria’s northern Sokoto state on Sunday, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
The tragic incident occurred as over 30 people were crossing a river in a wooden boat to reach their farmlands, local media reported.
Rescue efforts have recovered one body thus far, while 19 survivors have been accounted for. Among the missing are women and children.
NEMA issued a statement on social media platform X expressing its condolences to the affected families and confirming the ongoing search and rescue operation.
Boat accidents have become a recurring tragedy in Africa’s most populous nation, highlighting the urgent need for improved safety measures on waterways.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the capsizing, but overcrowding is suspected as a contributing factor.