A boat carrying forty passengers overturned in Gummi town, Gummi local government area, Zamfara State, killing at least 32 persons, including women and children.
In the early hours of Saturday, September 14, 2024, an overcrowded boat crashed with an empty boat on the Mashayar Yan Tauri River, according to Gummi resident Safiyanu Dan Iya, who spoke with Daily Trust.
Shehu Aminu Gummi, another local, claimed that while some passengers were saved, the others vanished into the river.
“After the boat capsized and sank in the river, it took the survivors almost two hours before they appeared on the surface of the water. The boat capsized around 10am and the survivors appeared around 12 mid-day,” he said.
“Although the rescue efforts continued up till 8pm, no additional person among the victims was found dead or alive.”
Alhaji Mahmud S. Fada, the Sarkin Fadar Gummi, verified that eight individuals had been saved.
“Apart from them, we have not seen anybody again. Up till this time that I am speaking with you, no corpse has been discovered from the river,” Fada said.
He claimed that although some rescue teams were dispatched to other rivers in the villages of Gayari, Dugwai, and Bandoki, no body had been discovered.
He clarified that the Sarkin Ruwa of Gummi had issued an order to halt the rescue since, in his opinion, the victims’ remains wouldn’t surface until Sunday.
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli
