6 Dead, 19 Rescued in Fresh Boat Mishap in Sokoto – NIWA Confirms

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has confirmed another deadly boat accident in Sokoto State, reporting six fatalities and 19 survivors rescued, with three individuals still missing.

The latest incident occurred on August 22 in Faji community, Sabon Birni Local Government Area. NIWA’s Area Manager in Sokoto, Mr. Bala Bello, disclosed the details to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, attributing the tragedy to negligence, overloading of the canoe, and violations of basic waterway safety rules.

A multi-agency team of inspectors—including officials from NIWA, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and the Red Cross—visited the scene to confirm the casualty figures and oversee ongoing search and rescue efforts.

Bello emphasized NIWA’s continuous engagement with riverine communities on the importance of waterway safety, including the proper use of life jackets and adherence to safety regulations.

This latest mishap comes just days after another fatal boat accident on August 17, when a vessel capsized along the Sokoto Rima River near Kojiyo village in Goronyo Local Government Area. In that incident, four passengers were confirmed dead, 41 were rescued, and five remained missing, according to the Sokoto State Government.

The back-to-back tragedies have renewed calls for stricter enforcement of safety protocols on Nigeria’s inland waterways, particularly in vulnerable riverine communities.