Another boat mishap in Sokoto has left Shagari community mourning, with many passengers feared dead.
The tragedy, the third in a month, has intensified calls for stricter waterway safety.
Sokoto State was thrown into grief on Thursday evening after another tragic boat accident occurred in Shagari Local Government Area, leaving many passengers feared dead.
This marks the third such tragedy in the state within the past month, raising fresh concerns about waterway safety.
In a statement issued Friday, Aminu Liman Bodinga, Special Adviser to Governor Ahmed Aliyu on the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), confirmed the incident. He explained that joint teams from SEMA, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) had already launched search and rescue operations.
According to eyewitness accounts, the overloaded boat suddenly overturned in the middle of the river, throwing all passengers into the water. While the exact death toll has not been established, community sources suggest that several lives may have been lost.
Residents and water transport observers attribute the recurring accidents to inadequate safety standards, lack of motorized boats, and the non-availability of life jackets for passengers. They urged the government to act quickly by enforcing strict safety rules and investing in safer, modern alternatives for river transport.
The state government is expected to release a comprehensive statement once the ongoing rescue and recovery efforts are concluded.
Meanwhile, Shagari and nearby communities remain in a state of anxiety, as families wait desperately for updates on their missing relatives.
