ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — At least 40 people have drowned in a boat accident on a river in northwestern Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu said Sunday.
The accident happened in Zamfara state when farmers were trying to get to their land, Tinubu said in a statement. The president pledged support to the victims and ordered emergency services to assess the incident.
Yazid Abubakar, a police spokesman in Zamfara, told The Associated Press that the accident happened on Saturday and that five people were rescued, but 40 were still missing. It was not immediately clear how many people were on the boat when it sank.
The boat was mainly carrying farmers who regularly cross the river to sell their produce at the market. According to locals, the boats are often overcrowded.
Zamfara State is rife with armed groups that kidnap people for ransom, steal livestock and engage in illegal mining.
Boat accidents are common in remote communities in Nigeria due to overloading and boats in poor condition.
In August, more than 20 people were killed in a boat accident on a river in southern Nigeria after the vessel’s engine exploded.
According to locals, most boats are not equipped with life jackets and proper safety measures are not in place.
