15 Feared Dead In Sokoto Boat Mishap

A boat mishap in Shagari Dam, Sokoto State has claimed 15 people.

An eyewitness said the occupants of the boat were crossing the dam through Lambara Village to Shagari when the disaster occurred.

The police did not confirm the mishap and the number of victims when this was filed last night.

Also, a resident of Illela Dabore, a nearby village to the accident scene, told LEADERSHIP that a number of people have died since the establishment of the dam in 2006 by the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

According to him, “the dam is becoming a curse to the communities rather than a blessing considering lives lost annually to boat mishaps, which is their only means of transportation.

“The recovered victims’ bodies are 11 males and four females, who were yet to be buried at the time of this report,” he said.

Despite numerous calls for the state government to provide motorised boats and life jackets, nothing has been done.