Sokoto, Nigeria (BN24) — Several people are feared dead following another boat accident in Shagari Local Government Area on the evening of Thursday, August 28, officials confirmed. This marks the third boat mishap reported in Sokoto State within the past month, raising concerns over river transport safety in the region.
The Special Adviser to Governor Ahmed Aliyu on the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Aminu Liman Bodinga, told reporters that teams from SEMA, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) have launched search and rescue operations to locate survivors and recover victims.
Eyewitnesses described how the boat, carrying numerous passengers, capsized in mid-river, throwing everyone onboard into the water. While the exact death toll remains unclear, local sources fear that many lives have been lost in the tragedy.
Residents and safety experts have repeatedly pointed to inadequate safety protocols, the widespread absence of motorized boats, and a lack of life jackets as major factors contributing to the recurring accidents on Sokoto’s waterways. The latest incident highlights urgent calls for improved safety measures to prevent further loss of life.
