Another Boat Capsizes in Zamfara, Four Children Dead, Two Missing

Less than a week after a tragic boat accident claimed over 40 lives in Gummi, Zamfara State, another boat has capsized in Bukkuyum Local Government Area, resulting in further loss of life.

The incident occurred on Tuesday at Mashayar Garba Rogo in Bukkuyum town, with over 50 passengers aboard.

According to Muhammad Usman, a local resident, the boat was carrying mostly children and a few adults, who were attempting to cross the river to their farms when the vessel capsized.

Four children tragically drowned in the accident. While two bodies have been recovered, two others remain missing.

Twelve survivors have been rescued and are currently receiving medical treatment at Bukkuyum General Hospital.

Babangida Usman, one of the survivors, recounted the harrowing experience, stating that the boat had started showing signs of instability during the journey.

Despite efforts from the boat operators, the vessel eventually overturned.

“We were able to rescue 12 children and some adults, but unfortunately, four people died. We have recovered two bodies, and two are still missing,” he said.

Hon. Nasiru Muhammad, the Sole Administrator of Bukkuyum Local Government, confirmed the incident and attributed the accident to overloading and a failure to follow safety precautions.

“The tragic accident was caused by overloading and the failure to adhere to boat safety guidelines.

The government is providing care for the 12 rescued victims at Bukkuyum General Hospital, and efforts are underway to prevent future occurrences of such incidents,” Muhammad said.

He also noted that search and rescue efforts are ongoing, with experts scouring the river for the two missing passengers.

The incident has brought further grief to the community, which is still reeling from the Gummi boat disaster that claimed dozens of lives just days earlier.

Local authorities have called for stricter adherence to safety protocols and the implementation of preventive measures to avert future tragedies on the waterways of Zamfara State.