After the tragic passenger boat capsize, search and rescue teams have been deployed in Sokoto State on Sunday morning.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed that only 10 people have so far been rescued, while over 40 passengers remain unaccounted for.
The ill-fated boat was headed to Goronyo Market, a major trading hub in the state, when it reportedly overturned.
Officials say the cause of the mishap is still under investigation, but overcrowding and poor regulation of waterways are being considered as possible factors.
NEMA Confirms Swift Response
In a statement released on Sunday, NEMA’s Director General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, explained that the agency activated its emergency protocol immediately after receiving the report.
“Our Sokoto Operations Office is working closely with local authorities and emergency responders to intensify search and rescue efforts.
We are committed to saving lives and supporting the affected families,” she said.
According to NEMA, response teams are combing the river to locate survivors, while divers and local volunteers have also joined in the search.
A Pattern of Tragedy on Nigeria’s Waterways
Although, boat accidents remain a recurring tragedy in Nigeria, particularly in northern states where rivers and lakes serve as major transport routes.
Many of these waterways are poorly regulated, and safety measures such as the use of life jackets are often ignored.
As at last year, Sokoto State recorded a similar disaster where 16 farmers lost their lives after a canoe capsized on their way to their rice fields.
Similarly, in May 2024, 27 passengers died in the Gbajibo community of Kwara State after a boat returning from a local market capsized.
That accident came just months after another tragedy in the same region claimed more than 100 lives.
This incident makes it one of the deadliest boat mishaps in recent years.
The risks however continued into 2025.
In July, six schoolgirls drowned in Jigawa State while returning home from farm work, and barely two days earlier, 13 people died in Niger State following another boat accident.
Calls for Stricter Safety Regulations
Experts and safety agencies have consistently called for stricter enforcement of safety protocols on waterways.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) earlier advised state governments to enforce the mandatory use of life jackets to reduce fatalities during such accidents.
Transportation analysts say that until issues such as overloading, poor boat maintenance, and lack of proper monitoring are addressed, the country may continue to witness avoidable tragedies on its rivers and lakes.
Hope for Survivors
As of Sunday evening, NEMA reported that the search for survivors was still ongoing.
Families of missing passengers have gathered along the riverbank, anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones.
The agency assured the public that updates would be provided as rescue efforts continue.
Community leaders in Sokoto have also pledged support, urging local fishermen and volunteers to assist in the search operations.
For now, residents of Sokoto and Nigerians at large are left mourning yet another heartbreaking reminder of the dangers of unregulated water transportation.
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