Dead, 41 Rescued in Sokoto Boat Mishap

At least four people have been confirmed dead and 41 others rescued following a boat accident in Goronyo, Sokoto State.

The joint operation, involving the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Goronyo Local Government Authority, and local divers, concluded its mission on Friday with the recovery of an additional body, bringing the death toll to four.

“A funeral prayer was conducted in accordance with Islamic rites before the victim was laid to rest,” NEMA’s Head of Press Unit, Manzo Ezekiel, disclosed in a statement.

NEMA’s Director General,  Zubaida Umar, commended the rescue teams for their diligence, praising the collaboration among all agencies and community responders.

As part of Thursday’s operations, the rescue team visited Takuske, Kwakwazu, Bari, and Gamiha villages, home to many of the victims, where they verified the number of missing persons and offered condolences to bereaved families. Authorities confirmed that 16 passengers survived the mishap.

The ill-fated boat capsized on Sunday, August 17, 2025, near Kojiyo village, close to the Goronyo Dam.

“With these developments, the multi-agency search and rescue mission has been officially concluded,” NEMA said.