Sokoto State has recorded yet another fatal boat mishap, deepening grief in local communities. The incident in Shagari Local Government Area left one person dead, nine rescued, and an 80-year-old woman missing.
The tragedy occurred on Thursday, 29th August 2025, when a boat carrying 11 passengers capsized while crossing a river from Tudun Launa to Ruggar Buda. Eyewitnesses said the victims had travelled from Yabo Local Government Area after visiting a local market before embarking on the ill-fated journey home. The boat, reportedly overloaded and struggling against strong currents, lost balance midway across the river.
A joint rescue effort by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), and the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) quickly responded. They recovered the body of 29-year-old Salmanu Muhammad Lambara, a local resident. The fate of Hajiya Hajara, an 80-year-old woman from Malam Gero Lambara, remains unknown, and the search continues.
Nine other passengers, including the boat operator, survived the accident, though most were left traumatised. Local residents helped pull survivors from the water before emergency teams arrived.
Abubakar Jabbi Lambara, a former councilor and resident of Lambara Ward, said the mishap occurred between 7:00 pm and 8:00 pm, a time when poor visibility and strong river currents made navigation hazardous.
The tragedy has sparked outrage in Lambara and surrounding communities, with residents lamenting the frequent river accidents and questioning the effectiveness of government interventions. Emergency officials noted that most rural travelers depend on locally made canoes without life jackets or motorised alternatives, heightening the risk of fatalities.
This is the third boat accident reported in Sokoto State within a month, highlighting the urgent need for government action, enforcement of safety regulations, and provision of safer transportation options. Authorities have called for regulation of night-time river travel and proper safety equipment for boat operators.
Search and rescue operations remain ongoing as teams continue efforts to locate the missing elderly woman, with officials promising to remain on the ground until the operation is concluded.
