The death toll from a boat accident in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State has risen to 53 following the recovery of additional bodies from the river.
The tragedy occurred at the Gorau crossing point when a boat carrying an estimated 75 to 80 passengers capsized while conveying residents across the waterway.
The passengers reportedly included farmers and labourers travelling to their farms, with earlier reports indicating that many of the victims were women and children.
According to a report by Vanguard on Friday, 53 bodies had been recovered as rescue teams intensified efforts to locate passengers believed to have been trapped or swept away by the river currents. The number had earlier stood at 47 before additional bodies were recovered.
The incident has plunged communities around Gorau into mourning, with families anxiously awaiting information about relatives who remain unaccounted for.
Emergency agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), security agencies and the Nigerian Red Cross Society, are involved in the search and rescue operation. Local divers have also joined the effort.
The exact circumstances that caused the boat to overturn remain under investigation, although overloading has been identified as one possible factor.
The accident has once again raised concerns over safety on Nigeria's inland waterways, where overcrowding, poorly maintained boats, inadequate life jackets and weak enforcement of safety regulations have contributed to repeated boat disasters, particularly during the rainy season.
Authorities are expected to establish the exact number of passengers who boarded the boat as rescue operations continue and more information emerges.
