Sokoto State has once again recorded another boat mishap when a passenger boat carrying dozens capsized on Thursday in Shagari local government area, leaving many feared dead and several others missing.
The boat accident, confirmed by the Special Adviser to Governor Ahmed Aliyu on Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Aminu Liman Bodinga, marked the third major boat mishap in the state within a month.
Bodinga disclosed that SEMA, in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), had deployed emergency responders to the scene to carry out urgent search and rescue operations.
He said, “survivors are still being pulled out, while the recovery of bodies is ongoing.”
Eyewitnesses reported that “the ill-fated boat was overloaded with men, women, and children before it capsized mid-journey, throwing passengers into the river.
“Some managed to swim to safety, but many remain unaccounted for, with fears that the casualty figure could rise significantly.
“Community leaders and experts have repeatedly warned that these tragedies stemmed from unsafe practices, including the use of non-motorised boats, overloading, lack of life jackets, and poor enforcement of safety standards.”
Despite recurring accidents, little has changed in terms of government intervention or regulation.
Residents of riverine communities, who rely heavily on waterways for daily survival, were living in fear and grief.
As anguished families in Shagari LGA and neighbouring towns await good news about their missing loved ones, the atmosphere remained one of despair and unanswered questions.
