- Safiu Kehinde
At least two persons have been confirmed dead with nine other rescued in fresh boat mishap at Jaranja river in Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto state.
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) Area Manager in Sokoto, Bala Bello, confirmed this to newsmen on Friday.
Bello, who said the incident occurred in the afternoon of Friday, attributed it to negligence, canoe overloading and safety rules violation.
He explained that a rescue team that comprised officials from NIWA, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and Red Cross Society had been deployed to the scene.
Bello said the team confirmed the casualty figures while search and rescue operations were ongoing to locate the missing persons.
The Area Manager reiterated that NIWA had been engaging riverine communities on safety measures, guidelines, use of life jackets and other considerations on water usage.
The tragic incident the third time of such occurrence in one month as the Sokoto State Government confirmed the death of four passengers, 41 survivors and five missing persons in a boat mishap on the 17th of August at Kojiyo Village in Goronyo Local Government Area of the state.
Another incident occured on the 22nd of August at Faji Community in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of the state.
Speaking at the scene, Malam Tukur Abubakar, the NEMA Head of Rescue and Rehabilitation, said search and rescue operations were ongoing in order to locate the missing person.
A resident, Malam Abubakar Jabbi from La told newsmen that 9 persons were rescued by local divers, one body recovered while a female body among the boat passengers is still missing.