A devastating boat accident occurred in Zamfara State’s Gummi Local Government Area on Friday, August 29, 2025, resulting in the deaths of at least 15 people, with three others still missing.
The incident happened when villagers fleeing bandit attacks attempted to cross a river at Nasarawar Kifi in Birnin Tudu ward.
The boat, which had a capacity of 16 passengers, overturned during its third trip after two women forced themselves onboard despite the vessel already being overloaded.
Eyewitnesses reported that the victims, mostly women and children from Danmaga, Tungar Maigunya, and Nasarawar Kifi, had rushed to the river in search of safety.
One eyewitness, Malam Bashiru, lamented the community’s recurring losses due to inadequate transport facilities and appealed for government and humanitarian support.
The village head of Nasarawar Kifi, Alhaji Muhammadu Chigari, confirmed the tragedy, revealing that the victims included eight housewives, three babies, and four youths.
He noted that local divers were still searching for the missing, while the deceased were laid to rest in a mass funeral led by Liman Yahaya, following Islamic rites.
Meanwhile, the Head of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA),
and Zamfara State Emergency Management Agency (ZEMA) would visit the scene to ascertain the exact number of victims and provide relief materials for their families.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Sokoto Field Office of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Aliyu Shehu, confirmed the incident, but could not verify the casualty figures.
He said a team from NEMA, in collaboration with the Zamfara State Emergency Management Agency (ZEMA), would visit the scene to ascertain the exact number of victims and provide relief materials for their families.
“We learnt about the tragic incident today. The Zamfara Emergency Management Agency and our team will be visiting there tomorrow, because we can’t confirm the exact number of victims yet.
‘The incident didn’t happen in Gummi town; it happened in one village outside Gummi, so we don’t really have details until we get there tomorrow,” he said.
