By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto
A tragic boat mishap occurred in Garin-Faji village, Sabon-Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, early Friday morning, claiming six lives. The accident, which happened around 5:30 a.m., left three persons missing while 19 others were rescued.
The Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), and the Red Cross, immediately conducted a joint assessment of the incident.
Rescue operations are ongoing to find the missing victims, while the survivors are receiving assistance. Officials said a detailed report on the accident will be jointly released by NEMA, SEMA, and NIWA in due course.
According to NIWA, preliminary findings indicate that the accident was caused by negligence, overloading of the canoe, and violation of basic safety regulations.
