In a heartbreaking incident that occurred in the early hours of Saturday, no fewer than forty lives were tragically lost when a boat carrying farmers and children capsized in Gummi town, Zamfara State. The victims were on their way to their farms to carry out their daily activities when the disaster struck.
According to local sources, the boat was overcrowded, which may have contributed to the accident.
One local resident, Musa Ahmed, who was close to the scene, shared his account of the tragic event. He explained that the boat was transporting a group of farmers and their children, totaling 53 people. “They were heading to their farms to begin the day’s work when the boat capsized suddenly,” Ahmed said, visibly shaken by the event. “It was a scene of utter panic as the boat sank almost immediately after it flipped.”
The mood in the town of Gummi has been somber ever since the news of the accident spread, and many families are left in mourning.
Despite rescue efforts by locals and emergency services, only twelve individuals were pulled from the water alive. Among those rescued was the boat’s captain, who is said to be cooperating with local authorities as they investigate the cause of the accident. Sadly, the remaining 41 passengers, many of them children, were reported dead, their bodies recovered from the river in the hours following the incident.
Eyewitness accounts suggest that the boat may have been overloaded, which could have led to the mishap.
The Emir of Gummi, Justice Lawal Hassan (retired), offering his condolences to the families of those who perished in the accident, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life and called for prayers and support for the grieving families. “It is a great tragedy for our community,” the Emir said. “We must come together in this difficult time to support one another, especially those who have lost loved ones.”
He also urged local authorities and community leaders to take immediate steps to prevent such accidents from occurring in the future. “We need to ensure that boats are not overloaded and that safety measures are strictly followed to avoid such heartbreaking incidents,” he added.
Ahmed, who witnessed the aftermath of the capsizing, described the rescue operation as frantic but ultimately insufficient due to the swift current of the river and the limited availability of rescue equipment. “When the boat capsized, there were a lot of people nearby who rushed to help,” Ahmed recounted. “But the river current was strong, and we didn’t have the right tools to reach everyone in time. It was terrifying. The screams of the children will haunt me forever.”
For the residents of Gummi town, this accident is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by those who rely on boats for their livelihood. Many farmers in the region depend on boats to transport themselves and their produce across rivers, which are abundant in this part of Zamfara State. However, safety regulations are often lax, and there is little oversight to ensure that boats are not overloaded or improperly maintained.
One survivor, a farmer who was pulled from the water by rescuers, shared his harrowing experience. “I never thought I would survive,” he said, still shaken by the ordeal. “One moment we were all laughing and talking, and the next, the boat was tipping, and we were all thrown into the water. It was chaos. I managed to grab onto a piece of wood and held on for dear life until they rescued me. But many were not so lucky. We lost so many children. It’s devastating.”
As the community grapples with the scale of the tragedy, questions are being raised about what more could have been done to prevent the disaster. The local government has promised to launch a full investigation into the incident, with a focus on ensuring that stricter regulations are put in place to prevent similar accidents in the future. This will likely include enforcing limits on the number of passengers allowed on boats and ensuring that all boats used for transportation are properly maintained and equipped with life-saving devices such as life jackets.
For the families of the victims, however, these promises offer little solace in the face of their grief. Many have been left devastated by the loss of loved ones, particularly the children, whose futures were tragically cut short.
Funeral rites have already begun for the victims, with emotional scenes playing out as families lay.
