Six Dead, 19 Rescued in Fresh Boat Accident in Sokoto – NIWA

By Halima Yusuf

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has confirmed a fatal boat accident at Faji community in Sabon Birni Local Government Area, Sokoto State. According to NIWA’s Sokoto Area Manager, Mr. Bala Bello, the incident occurred on August 22 and resulted in six deaths, 19 rescues, and three individuals still reported missing. 

The cause of the mishap was attributed to negligence, canoe overloading, and violations of safety regulations.

A joint inspection team made up of officials from NIWA, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and the Red Cross Society visited the site to oversee rescue efforts and verify casualty figures. 

Search operations are still ongoing to locate the missing persons. NIWA continues to engage with riverine communities on water safety practices, including the importance of life jackets and adherence to safety guidelines.

This recent tragedy follows an earlier boat mishap in Sokoto on August 17 at Kojiyo village in Goronyo Local Government Area, where four people died, 41 were rescued, and five were reported missing. 

Both incidents highlight the recurring risks faced by passengers on the Sokoto Rima River due to overloaded boats and poor safety compliance.