The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said 26 passengers were rescued and 25 are still unaccounted for from Sunday’s tragic boat accident in Sokoto.
Mr. Aliyu Shehu, Head of NEMA’s Sokoto Operations Office, disclosed that the ill-fated boat was carrying 51 passengers along with goods and motorcycles when it capsized.
“The rescue operation is ongoing. We have also alerted neighbouring communities to assist in the search for more victims,” Shehu said.
Anxious families were seen gathered by the riverside, waiting to know the fate of their loved ones, as officials from the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) were also present at the site to put more effort into the rescue operations.
Engr. Muhammad Bala, the NIWA Area Manager who confirmed that the agency had impounded the boat involved in the incident, urged boat and canoe operators to strictly adhere to safety guidelines to prevent future tragedies.
“The safety of passengers must always be a priority. Overloading and ignoring basic safety measures put lives at risk,” Bala warned.
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