- A boat capsized in Shagari LGA, Sokoto State, leaving many passengers feared dead
- Officials from SEMA, NEMA, and NIWA are conducting search and rescue operations
- The tragedy, third in a month, reignites concerns over safety standards on waterways
Sokoto state – Tragedy struck in Sokoto state on Thursday, August 28, as another boat mishap occurred in Shagari Local Government Area, leaving many passengers feared dead.
The incident, which has plunged communities into mourning, is the third boat accident in the state within just one month.
Source: Twitter
Sokoto government confirms accident
Confirming the development, the Special Adviser to Governor Ahmed Aliyu on the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Aminu Liman Bodinga, said officials had been dispatched to the accident scene.
“Our team is already on ground in Shagari for search and rescue operations. We are working in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to ensure survivors are rescued and victims recovered,” Bodinga stated.
Details of the mishap
Reports indicate that the ill-fated boat was carrying several passengers when it capsized, throwing everyone on board into the river.
The exact number of casualties has not yet been confirmed, but multiple sources suggest that many lives may have been lost.
Safety concerns resurface
Boat accidents have become a recurring tragedy in Sokoto, with experts attributing them to the absence of motorised boats, weak enforcement of safety regulations, and the non-availability of life jackets.
A resident of Shagari, who preferred not to be named, lamented:
“We keep losing our people on these rivers. Government must act fast and provide safer transport options before more lives are lost.”
Stakeholders argue that the repeated mishaps highlight the need for strict enforcement of safety standards, provision of modern boats, and adequate life-saving equipment for passengers.
“As long as these gaps remain, we will continue to witness needless deaths on our waterways,” a community leader said.
The Sokoto state government, in partnership with relevant federal agencies, is expected to issue an official statement once rescue operations are concluded.
Meanwhile, families anxiously await news of their loved ones as the mood in Shagari and nearby communities remains tense and grief-stricken.
Source: Legit.ng