At least 64 feared dead in Nigeria boat accident

KABUL (Pajhwok): At least 64 people were feared dead following a boat accident on a river in Zamfara State in northwest Nigeria, a media report said on Sunday.

A wooden boat carrying 70 farmers capsized as it was transporting them across the river to reach their farmlands close to Gummi town on Saturday morning.

Local authorities swiftly mobilized residents for a rescue operation, and after three hours, six survivors were pulled from the water.

“This is the second time such an incident has occurred in the Gummi Local Government Area,” said Aminu Nuhu Falale, a local administrator who led the rescue efforts.

He added that emergency teams were intensifying their search in the hope of finding more survivors.

More than 900 farmers rely on crossing the river daily to access their farmlands, but only two boats are available, often leading to overcrowding, said the local traditional ruler.