A tragic boat accident on a river in Zamfara State in northwest Nigeria has left at least 64 people feared dead, according to local officials on Saturday (September 14, 2024).
A wooden boat carrying 70 farmers capsized while transporting them across the river to reach their farmlands near Gummi town on Saturday morning. Local authorities quickly organized a rescue operation and managed to pull six survivors from the water after three hours.
“This is the second time such an incident has occurred in the Gummi Local Government Area,” stated Aminu Nuhu Falale, a local administrator who led the rescue efforts.
He also mentioned that emergency teams are actively searching for more survivors.
The local traditional ruler highlighted that over 900 farmers depend on crossing the river daily to access their farmlands, but with only two boats available, overcrowding is a common occurrence.
In addition to facing challenges from criminal gangs vying for control of mineral resources, Zamfara State has also been grappling with severe flooding due to heavy rains. Just two weeks ago, floods displaced over 10,000 residents, as reported by local officials.
Published – September 15, 2024 06:25 am IST
