ASHENEWS reports that a tragic boat mishap has claimed the lives of four people in the Dundaye community of Wamakko Local Government Area, Sokoto State. The incident, which occurred on Sunday evening, has left the community in mourning as rescue operations continue.
Aliyu Kafindangi, the Head of the Sokoto Field Operation Office of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), confirmed the mishap to newsmen on Tuesday in Sokoto.
He detailed the collaborative efforts of various agencies in the search and rescue operations, including NEMA, the Nigerian Red Cross, the Sokoto State Fire Services, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and local divers.
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According to Kafindangi, the mishap involved 24 individuals. Fortunately, 19 of them were rescued alive. However, the bodies of four victims were recovered—one on Sunday evening and three more on Monday. Sadly, one person remains missing as the search and rescue operations continue.
“Based on the investigation, 24 persons were involved in the incident, but 19 of them have been rescued. One dead body was recovered on Sunday, and yesterday, we recovered an additional three, bringing the number of deaths to four. One person is still missing, but search and rescue is still ongoing,” Kafindangi explained.
He also expressed gratitude to the state and local governments, as well as the members of the Dundaye community, for their support and cooperation in the ongoing rescue efforts. The incident highlights the dangers faced by residents in riverine communities, where boat travel is often a necessity despite the risks involved.
The community and authorities are hopeful that the missing person will be found, and efforts are being intensified to prevent such tragedies in the future.
