The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has debunked reports alleging that about 150 bandits drowned in a boat mishap at Sabon Gida in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The NIWA Area Manager in charge of the Sokoto Zonal Office, Mr. Bello Bala, dismissed the report as false in an interview with reporters on Monday in Sokoto.
Bala said there was no such incident, adding that the river mentioned in the report is not navigable.
He appealed to the media to be cautious about spreading misinformation and to always verify news from credible sources, assuring that the authority remains available for clarification.
The area manager reiterated that NIWA has been engaging riverine communities on safety measures, including guidelines on water usage and the use of life jackets.
He stressed that if such an incident had occurred, it would have been reported by community members to water users’ association leaders.
Meanwhile, a source from the 8 Division of the Nigerian Army in Sokoto also confirmed that the report was false, stating that no such incident occurred in the area.
The source, who pleaded anonymity, said troops are stationed across the area and no report of a boat mishap involving bandits had been received.
