Many kids among '40 killed' in Nigeria boat capsize

At least 40 bodies, mostly of children, have been recovered after an overloaded boat capsized in Nigeria's northwest Sokoto state, local officials and residents say.

The accident happened near Gorau in Goronyo local government area and rescue efforts are continuing, said Abdulkadir Yusuf, an area manager at the National Inland Waterways Authority.

Yusuf said about 40 children's bodies had been found while an MP at the Sokoto state legislature from the area, Nasiru Adamu, said the death toll stood at 43, with 16 rescued.

One local resident said the boat had been carrying farm owners and labourers hired to harvest rice and that more than 70 people had been onboard when it capsized.

Mustapha Umar, director of relief and rehabilitation at the state's emergency management agency, said officials were heading to the scene and would provide further information later.

Deadly boat accidents are common in Nigeria, where overcrowding, poor maintenance and weak enforcement of safety regulations often contribute to disasters on the country's rivers and waterways.

In January, at least 25 people died when a leaking boat capsized in Yobe state, northeast Nigeria.