Officials reported that a boat accident in Sokoto State, Nigeria, has left at least 10 persons dead and another 40 still unaccounted for.
A boat carrying more than fifty people to the crowded Goronyo Market overturned in the middle of its journey on Sunday, August 17, according to a post on X from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
After the tragedy, the Sokoto Operations Office (SOO) and NEMA’s Director General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, started a rescue effort right away.
According to NEMA’s statement, the Agency assures the public of its dedication to saving lives, giving prompt information, and organizing all required assistance for the impacted families.
It is still unknown how many people were killed. According to The Sun, emergency teams have been recruited by NEMA and the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to assist with continuing rescue operations.
More than 40 people are still missing, according to SEMA’s own X update.
Six people have been retrieved alive so far, while ten have been officially declared dead. According to The Punch, the agency stated on Sunday that search and rescue efforts are still underway to find the remaining passengers.
According to Reuters and The Guardian, the operation is also receiving assistance from a number of local officials and emergency responders.
One local told The Sun, “This is a great tragedy for our community,” characterizing the tense and depressing environment in Kojiyo.
In a statement to The Punch, Hon. Aminu Liman Boding, Special Adviser of SEMA, offered his sympathies to the families of the victims.
According to Boding, response teams have been sent out by the Sokoto State Government in coordination with pertinent agencies to improve current search efforts. We encourage everyone in the community to follow safety guidelines to the letter and refrain from overloading boats.
Less than a month has passed since a boat carrying over 100 people capsized in Niger State, killing 13 people and left numerous more missing, according to Reuters.
