GUSAU, Nigeria — In a heartbreaking turn of events, a boat carrying 11 people, including a soon-to-be bride, capsized on Sunday, May 7, 2023, in Gusau, Zamfara state, leaving eight dead as they sought clean drinking water.
The victims, four men and four women, drowned when their boat overturned in a river on the outskirts of Gusau. Three survivors managed to swim to safety along the riverbank.
The local source, Halilu of Unguwan Bugaje Gusau, spoke to the BBC Hausa Service about the tragic incident. He explained that the water in the Gusau river is only suitable for washing clothes, forcing residents to cross the river in search of portable water. Many have turned to private boreholes, dug by well-to-do individuals, to access clean drinking water.
“The young lady who died was about to be married,” Halilu lamented. “The prospective groom had already presented the required materials for their marriage to the deceased’s family.”
Water scarcity has become a pressing issue in Gusau and other state capitals in the Northwest region of Nigeria.
The dire situation has compelled many residents to travel far from their homes in search of drinkable water, putting them at risk of accidents like the one that occurred on Sunday, May 7, 2023.
The tragic event underscores the urgent need for improved water access and infrastructure in the region, as residents continue to face life-threatening challenges in their quest for clean drinking water.
