The member representing Goronyo-Gada Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Bashir Gorau, has confirmed that 26 passengers were rescued after Sunday’s boat accident in Sokoto State.
The mishap occurred when a vessel carrying more than 50 people to a market capsized on the river. Initial reports suggested about 40 people were feared missing.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, Gorau said 25 men and one woman were among those rescued. He added that the Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority had temporarily halted water release from Goronyo Dam to aid rescue efforts.
He cautioned, however, that the exact number of missing passengers remained unclear.
Describing the incident as a “tragedy”, Gorau lamented recurring boat accidents caused by poor adherence to water safety measures.
Sokoto has witnessed several fatal boat mishaps, including one in August 2024 that claimed 16 lives and another in May 2024 that killed at least 27 people in Kwara State.