At least 40 people are feared dead after a boat capsized in Gorau town, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The incident reportedly happened on Thursday while the boat was carrying farmers and agricultural workers across a waterway to their rice farms.
Sources said more than 70 people were on board when the vessel overturned. Many of those aboard were reportedly children aged between 10 and 15, accompanying their families to the farms.
A local journalist at the scene, Sharhabilu Yahuza Kiliya, said about 40 bodies had been recovered, while six people, including the village head, were rescued.
He said rescue efforts were still ongoing as local divers searched the waterway for missing passengers.
The victims were said to include farm owners and hired agricultural workers heading to their rice fields for harvesting.
The exact casualty figure could not be independently confirmed as of the time of filing this report, while rescue operations continued.
The tragedy has once again raised concerns about the safety of inland waterways in rural communities, especially during periods of heavy agricultural activity when residents rely on boats to reach their farms.
Further details on the cause of the accident, the number of survivors and the final death toll are expected from relevant authorities as search and rescue operations continue.