47 people perished after a boat overturned on a river in Sokoto State on Thursday, officials said.

The boat was transporting workers to farms in Gorau town, which is located in the state's Goronyo local government district.

The National Inland Waterways Authority's Sokoto state manager, Abdulkadir Yusuf, stated that 47 people have died "so far."

Samaila Garba, a 55-year-old resident, claimed that Jamila Usman, his 13-year-old granddaughter, was one of the victims of the capsizing.

He claimed to have counted at least 42 victims' bodies, the most of whom were women and children.

“You know, during the rainy season, most women and children go to the farm to work,” he said.

Aminu Dan Hajiya, another resident, stated that he uses the same waterway to get to his farm and that he feels fortunate not to have been on the boat.

"In fact, almost every household in the community has been affected," he said.

Source