At least 50 people, mostly children, have died after an overloaded boat capsized near Gorau in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State on Thursday, August 20, 2026. Rescue operations were still continuing as authorities worked to establish the final number of victims.
Reports indicate that the boat was carrying people travelling to farms, including farm owners and labourers involved in rice farming. Accounts of the number of passengers vary, with reports suggesting that between more than 70 and over 80 people may have been onboard.
Officials said a large number of the victims were children. Abdulkadir Yusuf of the National Inland Waterways Authority said around 40 children’s bodies had been recovered, while local reports and witnesses gave differing death tolls as recovery efforts continued. At least 16 people were reported rescued in one account.
A Reuters witness saw dozens of bodies at a community mosque in Gorau before burial. The tragedy has deeply affected the local community, with residents saying many households have lost relatives.
The incident has again raised concerns about safety on Nigeria’s waterways. Deadly boat accidents occur regularly, especially during the rainy season, with overloading, poor boat maintenance and weak enforcement of safety regulations often identified as contributing factors.
