RESCUE efforts are underway in Sokoto State after a boat carrying over 50 passengers capsized yesterday morning.

According to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the vessel was en route to Goronyo Market when the incident occurred.

Ten passengers have been rescued so far, while over 40 others remain unaccounted for.

Boat mishaps are frequent across Nigeria’s waterways, often linked to overcrowding, poor regulation, and weak safety measures.

The risks heighten during the rainy season, when rivers and lakes overflow.

NEMA’s Sokoto Operations Office has deployed emergency teams in collaboration with local authorities to intensify the search for survivors.

The agency assured families of the victims that it is committed to saving lives and providing timely updates.

Nigeria has witnessed several similar tragedies in recent months. In August 2024, at least 16 farmers died when a canoe overturned in Sokoto.

On July 29, six girls drowned in Jigawa after a boat capsized, while 13 people lost their lives in Niger State just days earlier.