Major accident in Nigeria, 41 people died due to boat capsizing

Abuja: At least 41 people were killed when a boat capsized in Nigeria’s northwestern state of Zamfara on Saturday while 12 others were rescued by rescue workers. National legislator Suleman Gummi representing Gummi-Bukkuyum constituency in Nigeria’s Federal House of Representatives said on Sunday that the boat was carrying more than 50 passengers and crew. He said the boat capsized in the river near Gummi town in Gummi Local Government Area of ​​Zamfara.

Gummi said the passengers were farmers who used to travel by boat to their farms in the nearby area every day. According to news agency Xinhua, authorities immediately dispatched local divers and other staff to the scene as soon as they received the information. At least a dozen people were rescued alive. Hassan Daura, head of the Zamfara State Emergency Management Agency, said in an interview with local media that most of the women and children were killed in the incident.

Boat capsizing accidents are frequent in the West African country. Factors such as overloading, adverse weather conditions, and operational errors are usually blamed for these incidents.