On a fateful Saturday morning in Zamfara State, northwest Nigeria, a wooden boat carrying 70 farmers capsized on a river near Gummi town. The farmers were being transported to their farmlands when the tragic accident occurred, leaving at least 64 people feared dead.
Local authorities quickly responded to the emergency, mobilizing residents for a rescue operation. After three hours of intense efforts, six survivors were successfully rescued from the water. Aminu Nuhu Falale, a local administrator leading the rescue mission, expressed deep concern over the incident, noting that this was the second such tragedy to strike the Gummi Local Government Area.
With more than 900 farmers relying on crossing the river daily to access their farmlands, the limited availability of only two boats often leads to overcrowding. This precarious situation has now resulted in a devastating loss of lives, highlighting the urgent need for improved safety measures in the region.
Furthermore, Zamfara State has been facing multiple challenges, including the presence of criminal gangs vying for control of mineral resources and severe flooding caused by heavy rains. Just two weeks prior to the boat accident, over 10,000 residents were displaced due to flooding, exacerbating the already dire situation in the state.
As emergency teams continue their search efforts in the hope of finding more survivors, the community mourns the tragic loss of lives and calls for increased support and preventive measures to avoid similar incidents in the future.
