August 24, (THEWILL) — The Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has confirmed that six people lost their lives, while 19 others were rescued in another boat mishap.
The incident, according to the agency, occurred in Garin-Faji Village, Sabon-Birni Local Government Area of the state.
The ill-fated boat, which was ferrying passengers across a local water channel, capsized around 5:30 a.m. on Friday, August 22, 2025, plunging its occupants into chaos.
Three people have been declared missing, prompting an intensifying rescue effort by the local divers.
A combined emergency response team was immediately dispatched to the scene to assist local divers and emergency responders.
The delegation included officials from SEMA, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Sokoto Operations Office, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), and the Red Cross.
Led by Aliyu Shehu Kafin-Dangi of NEMA, alongside Aminu Liman Bodinga, Special Adviser to SEMA, and Engr. Muhammad Bello Bala of NIWA led the team to the accident site, where they visited the victims’ families to console them, assessed the situation, and coordinated rescue and recovery operations.
Residents described the incident as harrowing scenes at the riverbank, with wails of anguish echoing through the community as families awaited news of their loved ones.
The officials assured the affected families of continued government support, stressing that the search for the missing would not be abandoned until all were accounted for.
The agency also emphasised the urgent need to strengthen safety measures on waterways and regulate boat operations more strictly to prevent further tragedies.
“A comprehensive joint report, with recommendations to avert future occurrences, is expected to be submitted in the coming days.
This latest accident comes as Sokoto State is still reeling from the Goronyo boat mishap, which claimed dozens of lives earlier in the week.
Tunde Omolehin is an award-winning Journalist with prose in investigative and storytelling that is connecting the dots between the under-reported communities and policymakers to ensure good governance and accountability.
