41 Feared Dead in Tragic Zamfara Boat Accident

A boat accident in Gummi Local Government Area, Zamfara State, has left 41 people feared dead. The tragedy occurred on Saturday morning, September 14, when the boat, overloaded with farmers heading to their farms, capsized on a river near Gummi town.

Eyewitness Abubakar Muhammad, an indigene of Gummi, told PUNCH Online that the boat was carrying 53 passengers. Of these, only 12 were rescued alive, including the boat’s captain. Muhammad explained the sequence of events, stating, “When the boat capsized today, Saturday morning, I was one of those who were present near the river close to Gummi town. Immediately, the boat sunk into the river with all the passengers. We did our best to rescue them, but unfortunately, we were only able to bring out 12 persons alive, including the captain of the boat. The bodies of the other 41 passengers were evacuated out of the water.”

The local community and rescue teams worked tirelessly to retrieve the bodies of the victims. The rescue operation, while successful in saving 12 lives, resulted in the discovery of the bodies of the remaining 41 passengers, confirming the extent of the tragic incident.

Overloading Blamed for the Accident

The Sole Administrator of Gummi Local Government Area, Alhaji Na’Allah Musa, confirmed the boat accident and attributed the cause to overloading. Musa shared that the boat’s captain had warned the passengers about the dangers of overcrowding, but they refused to listen. “The captain of the boat did all he could to reduce the number of passengers, but nobody wanted to be left behind,” Musa explained. “When he did all he could to reduce the number but failed, he was left with no option but to start going. As he moved forward, the boat capsized and sunk into the river due to overloading.”

Musa added that four of the passengers managed to swim to safety, and the remaining survivors were saved by rescue teams. However, the exact number of fatalities could not be confirmed at the time, as search efforts were still ongoing for other missing passengers.

Community Mourns the Loss

The boat accident has deeply affected the Gummi community. The Emir of Gummi, Justice Lawal Hassan (rtd), expressed his condolences through a statement on the Gummi Emirate’s Facebook page. The Emir described the incident as tragic and offered prayers for the victims and their families. “This boat mishap which occurred today, September 14, 2024, is really tragic and sad,” the Emir wrote. “I wish to console with those who have lost their loved ones in the incident. I pray to Allah to forgive all those who have lost their lives and give their families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”

Local authorities are continuing to investigate the incident, and efforts are underway to prevent similar tragedies in the future. This accident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of overcrowded transportation and the need for stricter safety measures, especially in rural areas where water transport is common.