Tragedy struck in Sokoto State after another boat accident in Shagari Local Government Area left many passengers feared missing.
The Special Adviser to Governor Ahmed Aliyu on Emergency Management, Aminu Bodinga, confirmed the incident on Friday. He said the mishap occurred on Thursday and that officials of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) had been dispatched for search and rescue operations.
Bodinga explained that SEMA is working with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to rescue survivors and recover bodies.
“The boat was carrying several passengers when it capsized, throwing everyone into the river,” he said.
Although he could not give exact casualty figures, residents fear most of the passengers may not have survived. At the time of reporting, rescue efforts were still ongoing.
The latest tragedy comes less than two weeks after another boat accident in the state claimed at least three lives and left more than 20 people missing.
In June 2025, seven people died when a canoe capsized on a routine trip from Gidan Husaini to Gwargawu village in Kambama ward, also in Shagari Local Government Area.