At least, eight people died – including a prospective bride – in a boat mishap in Zamfara state on Sunday, May 7.
EsB gathered that about 11 people were sailing to reach the other end of the river on the outskirts of Gusau, in search of portable water when the ‘unfortunate’ struck.
8 people are recorded drowned; 4 women and 4 men, while three others survived as they swam to the river bank for safety.
A local, Halilu of Unguwan Bugaje Gusau who spoke in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service on Monday in Kaduna, confirmed the unfortunate incident.
He said people usually use boats to cross over to the other side of the river to be able to get drinking water.
‘The Gusau River water can only be used to wash clothes and isn’t really suitable for drinking,’ he said.
He also disclosed that one of the female victims was about to be married as the prospective groom had already presented the required materials for their marriage to the deceased’s family.
Gusau is another state in the Northwest that has been hit by water scarcity, a situation that compelled many residents to go far from home in search of water to drink.
