ZAMFARA, Nigeria – At least 13 people have died and more than 20 remain missing after a boat carrying villagers fleeing violence capsized in Zamfara State, northwestern Nigeria.
Local officials said the accident happened on Friday in Birnin Magaji ward, where armed men had attacked communities, forcing residents to cross a river in search of safety. The vessel was reportedly overloaded.
“My eldest son and two nieces were among the 13 people who died,” said Shehu Mohammed, a health worker in Birnin Magaji. “People were panicking and rushed onto the boat. It simply couldn’t hold everyone.”
District head of Birnin Magaji, Maidamma Dankilo, confirmed the figures: “Thirteen people have been confirmed dead, 22 rescued, and 22 others are still missing.”
The tragedy comes amid a surge of violence across Zamfara, which has become a hotspot for attacks by armed groups known locally as bandits. Last weekend, gunmen killed two people and abducted over 100 others about 150 km from Birnin Magaji.
Data from Lagos-based research firm SBM Intelligence shows Zamfara recorded 50 mass abductions between July 2024 and June 2025, affecting more than 1,000 people.
“The scale of these attacks is devastating for our communities,” Dankilo said. “People live in constant fear, and even trying to escape can be deadly.”
Authorities have yet to provide an official update on the ongoing search for those still missing.
