Tragedy struck in Gummi town, the headquarters of Gummi Local Government Area in Zamfara State, as 41 people are feared dead following a devastating boat accident. The victims were en route to their farms when the boat they were traveling in capsized early on Saturday morning.
According to an eyewitness and resident, Abubakar Muhammad, the ill-fated boat was carrying 53 farmers. Only 12 survivors, including the boat’s captain, were rescued, while 41 passengers tragically lost their lives.
Muhammad recounted the horrific event: “I was near the river when the boat capsized. It sank quickly with everyone on board. Despite our immediate efforts, we could only save 12, including the captain. Sadly, we later recovered the bodies of the remaining 41 passengers.”
Confirming the incident, Alhaji Na’Allah Musa, the Sole Administrator of Gummi Local Government, attributed the disaster to overloading. He explained that the boat’s captain had urged some passengers to disembark due to safety concerns, but they refused.
“The captain warned them that the boat was overloaded, but nobody was willing to get off. Despite his efforts, the boat ultimately sank due to the excessive weight,” Musa stated. He further mentioned that four passengers managed to swim to safety, while local rescue teams worked to save the others. However, he noted that several passengers are still missing, and the full death toll remains unclear as the search for bodies continues.
This tragic accident underscores the dangers of overloading and raises concerns about the safety measures in place for river transportation in the region.
