At least 46 bodies have so far been recovered following a boat accident in Gorau community, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State, the state Police Command has confirmed.
The accident occurred on Thursday when a boat carrying 77 passengers, including men, women and children, reportedly capsized in the community.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmed Rufai, said 46 corpses had been recovered while 15 passengers were rescued alive.
Rufai said rescue operations were still ongoing, with security agencies and emergency responders searching for the remaining 16 passengers.
According to him, the rescue team comprises local divers, officials of the National Emergency Management Agency, the State Emergency Management Agency and the Police.
He said, “46 corpses have so far been recovered, while 15 persons were rescued alive. The rescue team, comprising local divers, NEMA, SEMA and the Police, is still searching for the remaining 16 persons.”
The police spokesman added that “77 persons were on board the boat at the time of the incident.”
The development has thrown Gorau community into mourning, with families anxiously waiting for information about their loved ones.
The latest incident occurred exactly one year after a similar boat accident in Kijio community, also in Goronyo Local Government Area.
Earlier, a resident of Gorau who spoke on condition of anonymity said the accident occurred Thursday morning, although the casualty figure was initially difficult to establish.
The resident said, “Only a few people were initially reported rescued, while several bodies were recovered from the water. Rescue efforts are ongoing as local divers and emergency responders continue searching for those still missing.”
The resident appealed to the authorities to intensify the rescue operation, saying many families were still waiting anxiously for news of their relatives.
Meanwhile, a senior NEMA official who identified himself simply as Alhaji Ibrahim told our correspondent that the agency had mobilised personnel to the community.
He said, “Our officials are currently on their way to the community to join the rescue operation.”
