From Bashir Rabe Mani, Sokoto
A boat reportedly capsized in Gorau town, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State, in the early hours of Thursday, with several people feared dead.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed the incident, saying emergency officials were being deployed to the area to assess the situation.
The Head of NEMA’s Sokoto Operations Office, Alhaji Tukur Abubakar, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with our correspondent in Sokoto.
“Yes, it is true that the boat has unfortunately capsized and there are reported fatalities,” Abubakar said.
He explained that NEMA officials were on their way to Gorau to determine the extent of the casualties and establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
According to him, he was travelling with officials of the Sokoto State Government, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and other emergency responders.
“So, you will get to know the details of the disaster much later today,” he added.
As of the time of filing this report, authorities had not released the exact number of passengers aboard the boat, the number of people rescued or the confirmed death toll.
The incident comes amid recurring concerns over boat mishaps in parts of Nigeria, particularly during the rainy season. Safety authorities and stakeholders have repeatedly called for stricter enforcement of water transportation regulations, including the use of life jackets and compliance with passenger capacity limits.
Authorities are expected to provide further details after emergency responders complete their assessment of the incident.
More details to come…
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