The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has confirmed that six persons died while 19 others were rescued in the recent boat mishap at Faji community, Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
NIWA’s Area Manager in Sokoto, Mr. Bala Bello, disclosed the figures on Sunday, August 24, stating that three people remain missing following the tragedy which struck on Friday, August 22.
Bello attributed the incident to negligence, canoe overloading, and violation of safety rules, stressing that despite repeated sensitisation, many riverine dwellers continue to disregard safety guidelines.
He explained that a joint inspection team comprising officials of NIWA, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and the Red Cross Society had visited the affected community to verify the casualty figures and oversee search and rescue operations.
According to him, efforts were still ongoing to recover the three missing passengers.
The NIWA Area Manager reiterated the agency’s commitment to enforcing water safety, noting that communities have been repeatedly engaged on safety measures, adherence to guidelines, and the compulsory use of life jackets.
The tragedy comes barely days after another mishap in Kojiyo village, Goronyo Local Government Area, where the Sokoto State Government confirmed four deaths, 41 survivors, and five persons missing after a boat capsized on the Sokoto Rima River on August 17.
The back-to-back disasters have heightened calls for urgent enforcement of water transport regulations across the state to curb further loss of lives.
