Another boat accident has claimed lives in Sokoto State, with six people confirmed dead and three others missing after a mishap at Faji community in Sabon Birni Local Government Area.
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) said the accident occurred on August 22, with 19 passengers rescued. According to NIWA’s Sokoto Area Manager, Bala Bello, the tragedy was caused by negligence, overloading, and violation of safety rules.
A joint team comprising officials of NIWA, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and the Red Cross visited the community and confirmed the casualty figures. Search and rescue efforts are still underway to locate the missing persons.
Bello noted that NIWA has continued to sensitise riverine communities on water safety, stressing the use of life jackets and adherence to navigation rules to prevent recurring disasters.
This comes just days after another mishap on August 17 at Kojiyo village in Goronyo Local Government Area, where four people were killed, 41 rescued, and five declared missing when a boat capsized on the Sokoto Rima River.
