More than 40 residents of Gorau village in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State are feared to have died after a canoe carrying dozens of children capsized.
The tragic incident has thrown the rural community into mourning, with emergency responders and local volunteers continuing search-and-rescue operations for several passengers who remain missing as of Wednesday evening.
One of the rescuers, Isah Ibrahim, said the canoe was conveying more than 70 children, aged between 10 and 15 years, who were travelling to their rice farms when the accident occurred.
The exact cause of the mishap has yet to be established.
Confirming the incident, the Head of Operations of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Sokoto State, Alhaji Tukur Abubakar, described the accident as unfortunate but said authorities were still working to determine the number of casualties.
“It is true that the boat unfortunately capsized and there are reported fatalities. However, we cannot ascertain the actual number or casualties at the moment as one men are on their way for rescue.
“I am together with the officials of the Sokoto State, National Inland Waterways Authority and other emergency responders. We will give detailed update shortly,” Tukur assured.
Emergency officials are expected to provide further details after the ongoing rescue operation is concluded.
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