Abuja, Aug 18 (V7N) – At least 40 people are missing after a passenger boat capsized in northwestern Nigeria’s Sokoto State on Sunday, authorities confirmed.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said a rescue team was immediately deployed following reports of the tragedy. So far, 10 people have been rescued, while dozens remain unaccounted for.

“We responded after receiving reports that a boat carrying more than 50 passengers capsized on its way to the Goronyo market,” NEMA Director-General Zubaida Umar said in a statement.

Recurring Tragedies

Nigeria’s rainy season, which lasts from March to October, often brings swollen rivers and dangerous water levels, making boat travel particularly risky. Capsizing accidents are common in rural regions where waterways are the main mode of transport.

This is not the first such disaster in Sokoto. In August last year, at least 16 farmers drowned in a similar accident in the same state. Just last month, another tragedy struck when a boat carrying nearly 100 passengers capsized in Niger State, killing 13 people.

Rescue operations in Sokoto are still underway, but authorities fear the death toll may rise if more survivors are not found soon.

END/SMA/AJ