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The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has confirmed another tragic boat mishap in Sokoto State, this time at Faji community in Sabon Birni Local Government Area.
Speaking to reporters in Sokoto on Sunday, NIWA Area Manager, Mr. Bala Bello, said the incident, which occurred on August 22, claimed six lives. He added that 19 passengers were rescued alive, while three others remain unaccounted for.
Bello attributed the tragedy to negligence, overloading of the canoe, and disregard for established safety rules. He disclosed that a joint team of inspectors from NIWA, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and the Red Cross had already visited the community to assess the situation.
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According to him, the casualty figures were confirmed during the visit, and search-and-rescue operations are still underway to locate the missing passengers.
The Area Manager stressed that NIWA has consistently engaged with riverine communities on water safety protocols, including the proper use of life jackets and adherence to guidelines to prevent such avoidable accidents.
It will be recalled that only days earlier, on August 17, the Sokoto State Government reported another mishap at Kojiyo village in Goronyo Local Government Area, where four passengers died, 41 were rescued, and five went missing after a boat capsized along the Sokoto Rima River.
Source: RipplesNigeria | Read Full Story…
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