Six Dead, Three Missing in Sokoto Boat Accident
Six people have died and three remain missing after a passenger boat capsized in Sokoto’s Sabon-Birni area.
Rescue teams and local divers saved 19 passengers, while search efforts are still ongoing.
Tragedy struck Garin-Faji Village in Sabon-Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State on Friday, August 22, 2025, when a boat carrying dozens of passengers capsized, leaving six people dead and three others still missing.

The accident happened at about 5:30 a.m. while residents were crossing a local river channel. According to witnesses, the boat overturned midway, throwing everyone on board into the water.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) confirmed that six bodies had been recovered while 19 passengers were rescued by local divers and first responders. “Three persons remain unaccounted for,” the agency stated, adding that search and rescue efforts are ongoing.
Families of the victims have been thrown into mourning, with many still searching the riverbanks for their missing relatives. Villagers described the scene as chaotic, as cries of grief spread across the community.
Responding to the disaster, SEMA led a joint team that included officials from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), and the Red Cross. The team visited Garin-Faji to assess the situation, meet with local leaders, and provide immediate support.
Alhaji Aliyu Shehu Kafin-Dangi, Head of NEMA’s Sokoto Operations Office, who led the delegation, offered condolences on behalf of the government. He assured residents that measures would be taken to improve safety standards on waterways.
A joint report on the incident, with recommendations to prevent similar accidents, will be released soon by NEMA, NIWA, and SEMA. In the meantime, local divers and emergency workers continue to search for the three missing passengers, with villagers also assisting by providing boats and manpower.
The tragic mishap has again drawn attention to the dangers of unsafe water transport and the need for stronger regulation to protect rural communities that rely on boats for daily activities.