More than 70 persons, mostly farmers, were aboard a boat that capsized yesterday at the Mashayar Dantauri river bank in the Gummi town of Zamfara, North West Nigeria. 

The unfortunate incident happened on Saturday, Sept. 14, around 9:45 a.m., as hundreds of people queued to cross to the other side of the river. The passengers were crossing over to their respective farm fields located in different places, including  the farming areas of Gandu, Kangiwa, Baye, Rijiyar Biri, Tankwalo, Mazoji, Kagara-galbi, and Wawa.

Three hours after the boat capsized, only six victims were rescued, leaving over 64 others to their fates

Over 900 people, including farmers, are estimated to be passengers crossing over the river bank to their various farmlands daily, but only two boats seem to be available despite the large patronage.

“We made several complaints to the LGA Council Chairman to provide us with more canoes as we require no less than 10 boats here. But we could not be heard,” Abubakar Aliyu, a farmer who narrowly escaped the mishap, told HumAngle. 

Mansur Baje, a relative of one of the victims told HumAngle his brother,  Hamza Abdullahi, who headed to the farm in the morning by crossing the river, did not return alive. He added that the deceased had planned to propose to his potential wife upon return from the farm. 

Rayyanu Mahmud, Divisional Police Officer of Gummi Police Divisional Headquarters confirmed the incident and told HumAngle that “this is just God’s making. If not, a symbol of danger was indicated on the scene warning people to stop loading from the area demarcated at the very location.”

“People are still busy searching in the deep sides of the river to find the victims since morning. We are hoping to succeed in this terrible incident,” he added.