Many Missing, Several Feared Dead As Yet Another Boat Capsizes In Sokoto

Tragedy has struck once more in Sokoto State following a boat accident in Shagari Local Government Area on Thursday, leaving several passengers feared dead.

The incident has thrown residents of riverine communities into mourning and heightened concerns over the rising spate of boat mishaps across the state. This latest disaster marks the third reported boat accident in Sokoto within the past month.

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 deployed to the accident site to carry out search and rescue operations.

He added that SEMA was working in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to ensure that survivors are rescued while victims are recovered.

According to eyewitness accounts, the ill-fated boat was carrying numerous passengers before it capsized, throwing everyone onboard into the river. While the actual number of casualties remains unconfirmed, local sources suggest that many lives may have been lost.

Boat accidents have become a recurring tragedy in Sokoto State, with experts attributing the frequency of such mishaps to the use of non-motorised boats, poor safety regulations, and the lack of life jackets for passengers.

Residents of riverine communities, who rely heavily on waterways for their daily transportation needs, have renewed calls on government authorities to take urgent action to curb the persistent loss of lives.

Stakeholders in the sector have also stressed the importance of strict enforcement of safety standards, provision of modern motorised boats, and adequate life-saving equipment for passengers as lasting solutions to the recurring tragedies.

The Sokoto State Government, in partnership with relevant federal agencies, is expected to issue an official statement on the Shagari incident once rescue and recovery operations are concluded.

Meanwhile, the mood in Shagari and neighbouring communities remains tense and grief-stricken as families anxiously await news of their missing loved ones. Residents have continued to appeal for sustainable interventions to end the deadly pattern of boat mishaps in the state.