By Jelili Gbadamosi
No fewer than 40 people are feared dead after a boat carrying farmers and labourers to their rice farms capsized in Gorau town, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The incident reportedly occurred shortly after the canoe set out to cross a stream on the way to the farms, with more than 70 people said to have been on board.
A significant number of the passengers were reportedly children between the ages of 10 and 15 who were travelling alongside farm owners and labourers for the rice harvest.
An eyewitness, Sharhabilu Yahuza Kiliya, a local journalist who was at the scene, said about 40 bodies had so far been recovered, while six people, including the village head, were rescued.
Kiliya said the passengers comprised farmers and labourers engaged in rice harvesting activities, adding that the canoe capsized shortly after departure.
Following the incident, local divers reportedly began rescue operations, searching the stream for passengers who were still missing and recovering bodies from the water.
The rescue operation was still ongoing as of the time of filing this report, with efforts focused on locating those unaccounted for.
The exact number of casualties remains unclear, and the death toll could rise as the search and rescue operation continues.
