Several people are feared dead after a boat carrying about 40 passengers capsized in Gorau community, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The incident reportedly occurred on Thursday, with men, women and children among those travelling on the boat when it overturned.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the accident but said the exact casualty figure remained unclear.
The source said five passengers had so far been rescued, while more than 20 bodies were reportedly recovered from the water.
Rescue operations were still ongoing as residents and emergency responders searched for missing passengers.
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The tragedy has thrown the community into mourning, with families anxiously awaiting information about relatives who were aboard the ill-fated boat.
Residents have urged authorities to intensify rescue efforts to locate survivors and recover those still missing.
The accident occurred exactly one year after a similar boat mishap in Kijio community, also in Goronyo Local Government Area, renewing concerns about the safety of water transportation in the area.
The cause of Thursday’s accident and the identities of those involved were not immediately known as of the time of filing this report.
When contacted, the spokesman for the Sokoto State Police Command, Ahmed Rufai, said the command would issue a statement on the incident.
A senior National Emergency Management Agency official, who identified himself as Alhaji Ibrahim, also confirmed that NEMA personnel were heading to the affected community.
Further details are expected as rescue operations continue and authorities provide updates on the casualty figures.