Sokoto State was plunged into mourning on Thursday evening following another tragic boat accident in Shagari Local Government Area, where several passengers are feared dead.
The incident, the third boat mishap in the state within a month, has renewed concerns over the safety of waterways in the region.
Confirming the development, the Special Adviser to Governor Ahmed Aliyu on the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Aminu Liman Bodinga, said emergency teams from SEMA, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) had already launched search and rescue operations.
Eyewitnesses told reporters that the ill-fated boat, carrying dozens of passengers, capsized mid-river, throwing everyone on board into the water. The exact death toll remains unclear, but local residents fear many lives may have been lost. Families are anxiously awaiting official confirmation.
Community members and safety experts blamed the repeated tragedies on poor safety enforcement, the absence of motorised boats, and the lack of life jackets for passengers. They called on the government to urgently introduce strict safety regulations and provide modern boats to prevent future disasters.
As of Friday morning, the atmosphere in Shagari and surrounding communities remained tense, with relatives still searching for their loved ones. The state government is expected to release a detailed statement after the rescue and recovery efforts are completed.
