At least 50 people, most of them children, died when an overloaded boat capsized on a river in Sokoto state, northwest Nigeria, as passengers traveled to rice fields for planting and harvesting work.
The vessel, carrying more than 70 people, overturned near Gorau in the Goronyo area. Abdulkadir Yusuf, an official with the inland waterways authority, confirmed the recovery of roughly 40 children's bodies. Local official Ibrahim Musa said 46 bodies had already been buried, while local leader Sarkin Daji said the boat was overloaded with farmers and hired labourers heading to the paddies. Only about six people were pulled from the water alive.
Boat accidents are common on Nigeria's inland waterways, with risks rising sharply during the rainy season. In a separate incident in January, at least 25 people died when a leaking boat capsized in Yobe state in the northeast.