Seven people have been confirmed dead following a canoe accident in Sokoto State, marking yet another fatal incident in the state’s ongoing struggle with waterway safety.
The Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) reported that the accident occurred on Monday near Rinaye village in Shagari Local Government Area, when a canoe carrying nine passengers capsized while crossing a river.
An assessment carried out on Tuesday, June 3, by officials from SEMA and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), confirmed the fatalities.
The victims included two children aged three and seven, three married women, and two adults aged between 35 and 40 years.
During a visit to the scene, representatives of both agencies expressed condolences to the grieving families.
Hon. Aminu Liman Bodinga, Special Adviser to Governor Ahmed Aliyu on Emergency Management, was represented by the Director of Relief and Rehabilitation, Mustapha Umar.
He described the incident as “deeply sympathetic” and advised riverine communities to observe safety precautions during water travel.
Umar reiterated the Sokoto State Government’s commitment to improving waterway safety through the distribution of motorized boats and life jackets to riverine areas.
Also present was the leader of councillors in Shagari LGA, Malam Shehu Karoga, who represented the local government chairman.
He commended both SEMA and NEMA for their swift response and expressed appreciation to Governor Ahmed Aliyu, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, and other stakeholders for their support during this period of mourning.
Speaking on behalf of NEMA’s Head of Operations in Sokoto, Alhaji Aliyu Shehu Kafin-Dangi, Tukur Abubakar, Head of Planning, Research, and Statistics at NEMA’s Sokoto office, pledged the agency’s continued support for affected communities.
A pattern of tragedies
Sokoto State has witnessed a troubling rise in boat mishaps in recent years.
In 2024, four people drowned when a canoe carrying 35 passengers capsized in the Dundaye community of Wamakko Local Government Area. Among the victims were women and children, many of them farmers.
Weeks later, a 60-year-old man lost his life in another boat accident in the same locality.
A particularly devastating incident occurred in Dindeji village, also in Shagari LGA, where 17 girls drowned when a canoe ferrying over 40 girls capsized in the Shagari Dam.
The victims were reportedly on their way to gather firewood. At least 15 bodies were recovered, while others were rescued by local divers.
In 2021, a boat carrying wedding guests—mostly women and children—overturned, resulting in 13 fatalities.
In 2022, another tragic mishap claimed the lives of more than 30 girls, including a bride-to-be from Gidan Magana.
The girls were also headed to a nearby bush to fetch firewood due to scarcity in their village.
The Village Head of Gidan Magana, Malam Muhammadu Auwal, who lost five of his children in the incident, confirmed that 23 females and six males died, while six passengers were rescued.
Government response
In response to the recurring disasters, the Sokoto State Government in 2024 procured motorised boats, life jackets, and relief materials valued at N1.1 billion for 22 flood-prone local government areas.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Ibrahim Dade Adare, said the distribution was based on a committee’s report identifying flood-affected LGAs—excluding only Dange-Shuni.
He noted that the procurement aims to mitigate the impact of future water-related accidents and improve safety across the state’s waterways.
Despite these efforts, the frequency of boat accidents underscores the urgent need for the enforcement of sustainable safety practices and increased public awareness in Sokoto’s riverine communities.
