Sokoto Boat Tragedy: NEMA Confirms 25 Survivors, Scrambles to Find 25 Missing

A tragic boat accident in Sokoto State has left 25 people missing, prompting a desperate search and rescue operation by emergency responders. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed that 25 survivors have been pulled from the water, but the grim search for the remaining passengers continues. The incident, which occurred on Sunday in the Goronyo Local Government Area, is yet another devastating example of the dangers faced by commuters on Nigeria’s poorly regulated waterways.

The ill-fated canoe was reportedly carrying more than 50 passengers from Kojiyo village to the bustling Goronyo Market when it suddenly capsized. Eyewitness accounts and initial investigations by local officials suggest that the boat was severely overloaded, a common and deadly practice in these rural communities. The accident happened during the rainy season, a period when rivers are full and often turbulent, adding to the risks.

Following the alarm, NEMA quickly deployed its teams to the scene, working alongside the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), local authorities, and courageous local divers. After an initial rescue of 10 people, a more intensified effort brought 15 more to safety, but the fate of the others remains unknown. NEMA’s Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, has reassured the public that the operation will be sustained, with rescuers working tirelessly to locate the missing. In a strategic move to help the rescue mission, the management of Goronyo Dam has temporarily closed it, providing better access for the teams.

This accident is far from an isolated event. It is part of a recurring pattern of boat mishaps that have claimed hundreds of lives across Nigeria. From overloading to the lack of life jackets and poor boat maintenance, experts and citizens have long criticized the lax enforcement of safety regulations. While the government has often pledged to improve waterways safety, this latest tragedy in Sokoto is a painful reminder that those promises have yet to translate into meaningful action for communities that depend on these watery routes for their daily lives. The incident casts a long shadow, underscoring the urgent need for a lasting solution to prevent such preventable disasters.