At least 40 people are missing after a boat capsized in Nigeria, authorities say

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — At least 40 people have drowned in a boating accident on a river in northwest Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu said Sunday.

The accident occurred in Zamfara state as farmers were trying to access their land, Tinubu said in a statement. The president promised support to the victims and directed emergency agencies to investigate the incident.

Yazid Abubakar, a police spokesman in Zamfara, told the Associated Press that the accident occurred on Saturday and that five people had been rescued but 40 were still missing. It was not immediately clear how many people were on the boat when it sank.

The boat was mainly carrying farmers who regularly use the crossing to sell their products at the markets. Locals report that the ships are often overloaded.

Zamfara State is rife with armed groups that engage in kidnapping for ransom, cattle stealing and illegal mining.

Boating accidents are common in remote communities in Nigeria because boats are overloaded and in poor condition.

In August, more than 20 people died in a boating accident on a river in southern Nigeria after the engine exploded.

Most boats do not have life jackets and do not have the necessary safety precautions, locals say.