A boat accident that happened in Sokoto state on Sunday evening has claimed not less than four lives in the Dundaye community in Wamakko Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The Head of the Sokoto Field Operation Office of the National Emergency Management Agency, Alhaji Aliyu Kafindangi, confirmed the incident on Tuesday in the state.
He noted that the agency’s combined efforts with the Nigerian Red Cross, Fire Services, the State Emergency Management Agency, and local divers led to the recovery of several bodies from Monday’s incident.
He explained that twenty-four persons had bombed the boat according to findings by the agency. Still, after an extensive search, only 19 persons were rescued by the authorities after over twenty hours of search.
Providing further detail, he noted that one of the bodies was found in the river on Sunday, while three others were rescued on Monday through a combined effort. He noted that one person was still missing, and the search will continue until the body is found, he said.
He appreciated the state government’s support and the local community’s cooperation with the authorities in ensuring the rescue operation’s success.
Special Adviser to the Sokoto State Governor on State Emergency Management Agency Nasir Garba Kalambaina also comfimeed the incident noting that professionals have been deployed to the river fr rescue operation.
The victims were reportedly going to their farms across the river when the canoe suddenly overturned due to an over flow of the river because of the heavy rain experienced in the state.
The boat accident in Sokoto State is the second that has happened in the country in less than ten days; an earlier incident in Jigawa claimed several lives.
