Authorities in Nigeria are searching for more than 40 people feared missing after a boat carrying dozens of passengers capsized in Sokoto State, in the country’s northwest.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed that the vessel was transporting over 50 people to Goronyo Market when it overturned. Rescue teams were quickly deployed, and about 10 passengers have so far been pulled to safety.
Officials said the cause of the disaster is under investigation, but preliminary reports suggest the boat may have been overloaded, a frequent problem in riverine areas of Sokoto.
Such accidents are not uncommon in Nigeria, especially during the rainy season between March and October when waterways swell and transport risks increase. Just last year, 16 farmers died in a similar incident in the same state while crossing a river to their farmlands.
Search and rescue operations are continuing as families await word on the fate of their loved ones.