Northern Nigeria: More than 50 dead in boat sinking

At least 51 people died Thursday after a boat capsized in Sokoto State, northwest Nigeria, a local resident told AFP, while authorities said rescue operations were continuing.

Shipwrecks on Nigerian rivers are frequent. They are generally due to overloaded vessels, poor maintenance, or failure to comply with safety regulations.

"The situation is serious. We have already buried 46 bodies, and five more have just been recovered from the river," said Ibrahim Musa, a former municipal councilor from the village of Gorau, in the Goronyo district, where the accident occurred.

"The boat was obviously overloaded. It sank barely a minute after setting sail. People on the shore watched helplessly as it went down," explains Ilyasu Adamu, another resident of Gorau.

"The passengers were going to the farm located on the other side of the river. Most of them were women and children. Some of the young girls were due to get married soon," he added, reporting at least 48 victims.

Dahir Kure, spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Sokoto State, told AFP that rescue operations were still underway.

"We are currently at the scene of the accident and have begun rescue operations," said Mr. Kure.

He was unable to provide an immediate assessment, stating that the authorities were still "gathering the necessary information" about the accident.

Sokoto State, like several others in Nigeria, can be particularly vulnerable to flooding during the rainy season, which generally runs from May to November, with heavy rainfall making navigation very dangerous.

In July, dozens of people died after their boat capsized in Jigawa State, northern Nigeria.