Residents of Gunmi town in Zamfara State are presently in a mourning mood after at least 40 people lost their lives in a boat mishap that occurred in the town in the early hours of Saturday, 14 September, 2024.
According to a local, Musa Ahmed, the deceased were going to their farms in the early hours of Saturday when the boat they were in capsized and sank into the river.
Ahmed, who said that the Emir of Gummi, Justice Lawal Hassan, (rtd) had sent a condolence message to the families of the boat mishap victims, disclosed that there were 53 farmers and children in the boat and only 12 were rescued alive including the captain of the boat and the remaining forty-one reported dead.
“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 capsized, it sank 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 evaluated out of the water.”
He told newsmen on phone that the Sole Administrator of Gummi local government area, Na’Allah Musa said the boat was overloaded.
He said the captain of the boat told the passengers that some of them must come down but all of them refused to listen.
“There were many people on the boat and the captain did all he could to reduce the number but nobody wanted to be left behind.
“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 sank into the river due to overloading.
“Only four of the passengers were able to swim out of the river while the rescue operators were able to save others.
“There were many casualties but actually, I can’t exactly tell you how many of them have died because we are still looking for other missing passengers,” said the Sole Administrator.
