The National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, has confirmed another fatal boat mishap at Faji community in Sabon Birni local government area of Sokoto State.
NIWA Area Manager in Sokoto, Mr Bala Bello, on Sunday in Sokoto, said that six persons died, 19 survivors were rescued while three people were still missing in the fresh mishap.
Bello, who said the incident occurred on August 22, attributed it to negligence, canoe overloading and safety rules violation.
He explained that a team of Inspectors, comprising officials from NIWA, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, and Red Cross Society had visited the affected community.
Bello said the team confirmed the figure of the casualties while search and rescue operations were ongoing to locate the three missing persons.
READ ALSO: Oluremi Tinubu leather hub: Sanwo-Olu says 10,000 jobs created
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.
Sokoto State government confirmed the death of four passengers, 41 survivors and five missing persons in a boat mishap on August 17, at Kojiyo Village in Goronyo local government area in the state.
The unfortunate incident reportedly occurred along the Sokoto Rima River, when the boat conveying the passengers capsized.
Source: NAN
