Many Feared Dead as Boat Carrying 40 Passengers Capsizes in Sokoto

Several people are feared dead after a boat carrying about 40 passengers capsized in Gorau, an agrarian community in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The incident has thrown residents of the community into mourning, with local sources saying many of those on board were children between the ages of 10 and 15.

The exact number of casualties remains unclear as of Thursday, while emergency officials were still working to reach the affected community.

The Head of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) operation in charge of the Sokoto zonal office, Malam Tukur, confirmed the incident.

Tukur said details remained sketchy because security challenges in the area had prevented humanitarian and emergency workers from immediately gaining access to the community.

Speaking to Arise News, he said NEMA officials, alongside personnel from the National Inland Waterways Authority and the relevant state emergency management authorities, were on their way to the community to assess the situation and commence rescue and recovery efforts.

However, he said their movement was slowed by a bandit attack reported along the road leading to the affected community on Thursday morning.

Local residents told reporters that the boat had approximately 40 people aboard when it capsized. The passengers reportedly included men, women and a large number of children.

The circumstances surrounding the accident, including what caused the boat to overturn and whether any passengers have been rescued, were still unclear at the time of filing this report.

The latest incident has also revived concerns over recurring boat accidents in communities along waterways in Goronyo Local Government Area.

A similar tragedy was reported in Kojiyo community in the same local government area on August 18, 2025, when a boat carrying more than 40 passengers capsized, killing four people.

The recurring incidents have raised concerns over waterway safety, particularly the vulnerability of rural communities that rely heavily on boats for transportation.

Meanwhile, the Sokoto State Police Command said it was aware of the latest development.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Ahmad Rufai, said the police would issue an official statement on the incident.

As emergency agencies continue efforts to reach Gorau, residents and families of those believed to have been aboard the boat are awaiting confirmation of the number of casualties and the fate of the missing passengers.

Further details are expected once rescue and assessment teams gain access to the community.