Tragedy! Sokoto Records Third Boat Mishap in a Month, Two Dead, Many Missing

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has confirmed a fatal boat capsize on the Jaranja River in Sokoto State’s Shagari Local Government Area, marking the third such tragedy to hit the state within a single month.

The incident, which occurred on Friday afternoon, resulted in two confirmed fatalities and nine injuries.

NIWA’s Area Manager, Bala Bello, attributed the cause to passenger carelessness, severe overloading, and a blatant violation of basic safety rules.

A multi-agency rescue team comprising officials from NIWA, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency, and the Red Cross Society was swiftly mobilized to the scene. Tukur Abubakar, NEMA’s Head of Rescue and Rehabilitation, reported that local divers have recovered one body, while one female passenger remains missing and search efforts are ongoing.

This disaster is the latest in a devastating series of waterway accidents in Sokoto. It follows a August 17th mishap in Kojiyo village, Goronyo LGA, which left four people dead and five missing after 41 were rescued. Another incident was recorded on August 22nd in the Faji Community of Sabon Birni LGA.

Bello reiterated that NIWA continues to engage riverine communities on critical safety measures, including the mandatory use of life jackets. However, these efforts have yet to curb the recurring incidents, which are frequently caused by overcrowding and poorly maintained vessels, especially during the current rainy season.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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