NIGERIA: 64 Feared Dead in Zamfara Boat Tragedy: Rescue Efforts Underway

By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu

At least 64 people are feared dead after a wooden boat carrying 70 farmers capsized on a river near Gummi town in Zamfara State, northwest Nigeria. The farmers were on their way to their farmlands when the boat overturned on Saturday morning. Local authorities, led by Aminu Nuhu Falale, initiated a rescue operation, recovering six survivors after three hours of searching.

“This is the second time such an incident has occurred in Gummi Local Government Area,” Falale said. The tragedy highlights the risks faced by over 900 farmers who rely on just two boats to cross the river daily. Overcrowding and seasonal floods have further worsened the situation. Flooding recently displaced over 10,000 residents in Zamfara, a state already affected by criminal gangs seeking control of mineral resources.

For more, visit CNN World News.

About The Author

Chioma Ndukwu

See author's posts