AT LEAST 40 CHILDREN DEAD AFTER OVERCROWDED BOAT CAPSIZES

ABUJA, AUGUST 20 / SRNA-Reuters/ - The bodies of around 40 children who died when an overcrowded boat capsized in the northwestern Nigerian state of Sokoto have been recovered, said Abdulkadir Yusuf, head of the local area office of the National Inland Waterways Authority.

"I can confirm that around 40 bodies of children have been recovered so far, while the search for the bodies of the others is continuing," Yusuf said.

The traditional ruler of the area, Sarkin Daji, said the accident occurred this morning when passengers were travelling to harvest rice.

The final number of victims in the accident is not yet known.