Two people have died, and others are missing after another boat accident on the Jaranja River in Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The National Inland Waterways Authority confirmed the incident on Friday, saying it is the third boat mishap recorded in the state this month.
NIWA’s Area Manager in Sokoto, Bala Bello, said the accident happened on Friday afternoon due to negligence, overloading, and failure to follow safety rules.
“We recorded two dead and nine rescued,” Bello said. “Search and rescue operations are ongoing to find those still missing.”
He explained that a rescue team made up of officials from NIWA, the National Emergency Management Agency, the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency, and the Red Cross has been deployed to the site.
Bello added that NIWA has been engaging riverine communities on safety measures, the use of life jackets, and adherence to safety guidelines to prevent such accidents.
Tukur Abubakar, Head of Rescue and Rehabilitation at NEMA, confirmed that the search is still ongoing to recover those missing.
A resident, Abubakar Jabbi, said, “Local divers rescued nine people, and one body has been recovered, but a woman is still missing.”
This is the third boat tragedy in Sokoto this month. On August 17, a boat accident in Kojiyo Village, Goronyo Local Government, claimed four lives, while another accident occurred on August 22 at Faji Community in Sabon Birni Local Government Area.
