Another tragedy struck Sokoto State when a boat carrying dozens of passengers capsized in a local water channel, leaving six people d3ad and three others missing.
The incident occurred around 5:30 a.m. on Friday in Garin-Faji Village in Sabon-Birni Local Government Area of the state as residents fled an attack by suspected bandits.
Six days earlier, four people lost their lives in a similar accident in Goronyo Local Government Area of the state.
Eyewitnesses said the boat overturned midway through its journey, forcing occupants into the river.
Local divers and first responders managed to rescue 19 passengers, but three remain unaccounted for, raising fears that the d3ath toll could rise.
The Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) confirmed the fatalities in a statement on Sunday, stressing the ongoing search and rescue efforts.
“Our teams, together with local divers, continue to comb the river to locate the missing individuals,” the agency said.
A joint assessment team comprising officials from SEMA, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Sokoto Operations Office, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), and the Red Cross visited the village to evaluate the disaster and provide support to affected families.
The delegation, led by Alhaji Aliyu Shehu Kafin-Dangi, Head of NEMA Sokoto Operations, met with community leaders, traditional rulers, and relatives of the victims to document eyewitness accounts and offer reassurance.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the families and community members. We will continue to search for the missing persons and draw lessons from this tragedy to improve safety on our waterways,” Kafin-Dangi said.
Officials emphasised the urgent need for boat operators to strictly follow safety regulations. Hon. Aminu Liman Bodinga, Special Adviser to Sokoto SEMA, noted that enhanced monitoring and compliance are critical to preventing similar incidents in the future.
Community members have actively joined the rescue efforts, providing boats, ropes, and manpower to assist the emergency teams. SEMA announced that a comprehensive joint report on the incident will be released soon, containing recommendations to enhance waterway safety and prevent future accidents.
Search and rescue operations continue as teams and volunteers comb the river, hoping to locate the three missing passengers and bring closure to grieving families.
