Tragedy as Boat Capsizes in Sokoto

Another boat mishap has thrown Sokoto State into mourning after an incident in Shagari Local Government Area left many passengers feared missing.

The Special Adviser to Governor Ahmed Aliyu at the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Aminu Bodinga, confirmed the development to journalists on Friday.

According to him, the accident occurred on Thursday, and emergency officials have since been deployed for search and rescue operations. “SEMA officials are working in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to rescue survivors and recover victims,” Bodinga explained.

He revealed that the boat, which was carrying several passengers, suddenly capsized, throwing everyone on board into the river. Although he could not give a definite casualty figure, locals fear that many of the occupants might not have survived.

At press time, teams from SEMA, NEMA, and NIWA were still engaged in rescue efforts.

The disaster comes less than two weeks after another boat accident in the state claimed at least three lives, with more than 20 others still unaccounted for.

In a separate incident in June 2025, seven people died when a canoe overturned while traveling from Gidan Husaini to Gwargawu village in Kambama ward, also within Shagari Local Government Area. The victims were said to have been on a routine river trip before tragedy struck.