The lawmaker representing Goronyo-Gada Federal Constituency, Hon. Bashir Gorau, has confirmed that 26 passengers have been rescued following Sunday’s tragic boat accident in Sokoto State.
The ill-fated vessel, carrying over 50 passengers en route to a local market, capsized on the Rima River early Sunday morning. Initial figures from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) suggested that about 40 persons were feared dead.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, Gorau explained that community leaders and traditional water experts, known locally as Sarkin Ruwas, have been at the forefront of the rescue mission.
“So far, 25 men and one woman have been successfully rescued. We are also working with the Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority (SRRBDA), which has agreed to temporarily halt water releases from the Goronyo Dam to aid recovery efforts,” the lawmaker stated.
While confirming the ongoing search, Gorau clarified that the exact number of missing persons remains uncertain.
> “It is merely an assumption that 40 or 50 people are missing. There is no verified figure yet,” he said.
The lawmaker described the tragedy as part of a recurring problem linked to poor adherence to safety protocols on Nigeria’s inland waterways.
Unfortunately, this incident adds to the growing list of boat tragedies in the country. In August 2024, 16 farmers died after a canoe capsized in Sokoto, while in May 2024, 27 people lost their lives in a boat mishap in Gbajibo, Kwara State—just months after another accident in the same area claimed over 100 lives.
