Four Children Dead, 12 Hospitalized As Another Boat Capsizes In Zamfara

Four children have been reported dead while twelve others were hospitalized after a boat conveying 46 passengers capsized in Mashayar Garba Rogo, Bukkuyum town, Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara state.

The latest incident occurred around 10:30 am on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, barely a week after a boat mishap in Gummi Local Government Area of the state claimed over 30 lives.
 
According to a local resident, Malam Aliyu Umar Bukkuyum, two bodies of the children were recovered, while the other two remain missing.
 
Twelve people are currently unconscious and receiving treatment at General Hospital Bukkuyum.
 
One of the survivors, Buhari Usman (also known as Messi), reported that the boat had about 50 passengers, mostly children and a few adults, who were travelling across the Zamfara River to reach their farms.
 
He explained that midway through the journey, the boat began to behave erratically and capsized despite efforts by the boat captains to stabilize it.
 
“I personally rescued 12 children and some adults. We managed to save a good number of the victims, but unfortunately, four died. Two bodies have been recovered, while the other two remain missing,” he said.
 
The Sole Administrator of Bukkuyum, Hon. Nasiru Muhammad (DG), confirmed the incident, attributing it to overloading, anxiety, and failure to follow proper boating guidelines.
 
He noted that the government is caring for the 12 rescued victims at the hospital and promised that measures would be taken to prevent similar accidents in the future.
 
Search efforts are ongoing to locate the two missing passengers.