At Least 13 Dead, Dozens Missing After Boat Capsizes in Northwest Nigeria

At Least 13 Dead, Dozens Missing After Boat Capsizes in Northwest Nigeria
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At least 13 people have died and over 20 remain missing after an overloaded boat capsized in Nigeria’s Zamfara State as residents fled an armed attack, Reuters reported. The incident occurred Friday when gunmen stormed two communities in Birnin Magaji ward, prompting villagers to escape toward a nearby river. With only one boat available, many crowded on board in a desperate attempt to flee.

Local health worker Shehu Mohammed confirmed that his relatives were among the dead. According to Maidamma Dankilo, district head of Birnin Magaji, 13 bodies have been recovered, 22 people were rescued, and 22 others are still unaccounted for.

Zamfara has become a hotspot for violence driven by armed groups, often referred to as bandits, as part of a wider surge in insecurity across Nigeria. Just last week, gunmen killed two people and abducted more than 100 in a nearby area. A recent report recorded 50 mass abductions in Zamfara over the past year.