Tragic Boat Accident Claims Lives Of Over 40 In Zamfara Community

Tragic Boat Accident Claims Lives Of Over 40 In Zamfara Community

Tragedy struck Gummi town in Zamfara State as more than 40 people were reported dead following a boat accident. The incident occurred early on Saturday, September 14, 2024, when the boat, carrying farmers and children to their fields, capsized and sank in the river.

Musa Ahmed, a local witness, explained that the boat was overloaded with 53 passengers, including the captain. Despite efforts to rescue those on board, only 12 people survived, while 41 others perished.

Ahmed reported, “I was near the river when the boat capsized. We tried our best to rescue the passengers but could only save 12, including the boat’s captain. The bodies of the remaining 41 were later recovered from the water.”

The Sole Administrator of Gummi Local Government Area, Na’Allah Musa, indicated that the boat was overloaded. The captain had reportedly asked some passengers to disembark to reduce the load, but his request was ignored. Consequently, the boat sank due to the excessive weight.

“Despite the captain’s efforts to offload some passengers, the boat continued with its full capacity, leading to the tragedy,” said Musa. “Only four passengers managed to swim to safety, while the rest were rescued by operators.”

The Emir of Gummi, Justice Lawal Hassan (rtd), has extended his condolences to the families of the victims. Authorities are still searching for additional missing passengers.