At least 15 villagers who were on their way to attend the Mawlud Nabiy celebration, in commemoration of Prophet Muhammad’s birthday in a neighbouring village have reportedly lost their lives.
The incident occurred after their boat capsized on the waterway along Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
Aliyu Abubakar Dantani, Chairman of Shagari local government council who confirmed the incident said, the victims came from different villages.
“They were 25 onboard when the boat capsized but 10 of them were rescued alive. They came from four different villages, converged on one of the villages and from there they entered the canoe.
“Four of the victims were from Gidan Raket village, three were from Gidan Dawa, seven from Sabon Garin Sullubawa and one girl was from Tsohon Garin Sullubawa.
“They were on their way to another village for the annual Mawlud festival but the boat capsized before they reached their destination.
“Fifteen persons drowned but their bodies were later recovered and buried according to the Islamic rites,” Dantani said.
On the promise made by Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal in 2021 to provide life jackets in the riverine villages around the local government, the chairman said that “it is still on course.”
Recall that in 2021, a boat ferrying wedding guests capsized, killing 13 persons who were mostly women and children at Ginga village in Shagari local government area.
Also in April this year, 29 teenagers including a bride-to-be were killed in a boat accident in the nearby village of Gidan Magana.
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