Dozens dead after boat capsizes in Nigeria

Rescue operations are underway after an overloaded boat capsized in a river in Nigeria's northwestern Sokoto State, killing more than 50 people, local authorities said Thursday.

Authorities are at the scene assessing the situation and working to establish the exact number of casualties.

Several media outlets reported that authorities in Sokoto State said Friday morning that the death toll from the capsizing of the overloaded boat had risen to 52.

Most of the victims were reportedly children.

"We are about to meet with officials of the local government to identify the families of the victims," Tukur Abubakar, head of operations at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Sokoto State, said.

According to Samaila Garba, a resident, his 13-year-old granddaughter was among the dead.

He said he had counted at least 42 bodies, most of whom were women and children.

"During the rainy season, most women and children go to the farm to work," he said.

Former local councilor Ibrahim Musa described the situation as "bad," adding: "We already buried 46 bodies, and five more have just been recovered from the river," he said.

Boat accidents are common in Nigeria, especially during the rainy season, with scores of people dying each year as a result of overloaded boats, poor maintenance or failure to comply with safety regulations.

In January, at least 25 people were killed in Yobe State in northeastern Nigeria in a similar accident.

Authorities have recommended measures including providing safer boats and life jackets, dredging waterways, deploying water guards at jetties and terminals, and ensuring boat operators are properly trained and licensed.