A wooden boat carrying 70 farmers capsized as it was transporting them across the river to reach their farmlands close to Gummi town on Saturday morning.
Local authorities swiftly mobilized residents for a rescue operation, and after three hours, six survivors were pulled from the water.
“This is the second time such an incident has occurred in the Gummi Local Government Area,” said Aminu Nuhu Falale, a local administrator who led the rescue efforts.
He added that emergency teams were intensifying their search in the hope of finding more survivors.
More than 900 farmers rely on crossing the river daily to access their farmlands, but only two boats are available, often leading to overcrowding, said the local traditional ruler.
Zamfara State, already plagued by criminal gangs seeking control of mineral resources, has also been severely affected by flooding caused by heavy rains.
Two weeks ago, floods displaced more than 10,000 residents, local officials said.
No fewer than 64 people are feared dead following a boat accident in Gummi town, the headquarters of Gummi Local Government Area in Zamfara State.
The boat, carrying more than seventy farmers heading to their fields on Saturday morning, capsized near the town.
An eyewitness, Abubakar Muhammad, a resident of Gummi, told newsmen that only 12 of the passengers, including the boat’s captain, were rescued alive, while the remaining 41 drowned.
Muhammad recounted the scene, saying, “When the boat capsized today, I was one of those who were present near the river close to Gummi town.
“Immediately, the boat capsized. It sank into the river with all the passengers.
“We did our best to rescue them, but unfortunately, we were only able to bring out 12 persons alive, including the captain of the boat.
“The bodies of the other 41 passengers were evacuated out of the water.”
Alhaji Na’Allah Musa, the Sole Administrator of Gummi Local Government, confirmed that the captain had warned passengers to reduce the number onboard, but the passengers refused. The overloaded boat eventually capsized, sinking into the river.
Confirming the accident to PUNCH Online on the telephone, the Sole Administrator, Gummi Local Government Area, Alhaji Na’Allah Musa, said the boat was overloaded.
According to him, the captain of the boat told the passengers that some of them must come down, but all of them refused to listen.
Operation are ongoing with the National Navy deploying 3 vessels
He said, “There were many people on the boat, and the captain did all he could to reduce the number, but nobody wanted to be left behind.
“When he did all he could to reduce the number but failed, he was left with no option but to start going.
“As he moved forward, the boat capsized and sank into the river due to overloading.
“Only four of the passengers were able to swim out of the river, while the rescue operators were able to save others.
“There were many casualties, but actually I can’t say exactly how many of them have died because we are still looking for other missing passengers.”
