•Boat mishap
A boat mishap has claimed the lives of four persons while 41 persons were rescued at the Goronyo Local Government Area Local Government in Sokoto State.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) today in a statement by the Head of Press Unit, Manzo Ezekiel said the increase in fatalities followed the recovery of an additional body earlier on.
A funeral prayer was observed in line with Islamic rites, and the body was immediately laid to rest, reports Daily Independent.
The statement read, “As part of the Thursday 21st August, 2025 rescue operations, the response team visited four villages: Takuske, Kwakwazu, Bari and Gamiha, where many of the passengers of the ill-fated boat were said to have resided.
“The visits provided an opportunity to verify the number of persons still missing and to commiserate with families who lost their loved ones. During the visits, it was also confirmed that 16 persons had survived the mishap.
“Following these developments, the multi-agency search and rescue operation has been officially concluded. The operation was jointly conducted by the NEMA, Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Goronyo Local Government Authority, and community divers,” the statement noted.
“Following these developments, the multi-agency search and rescue operation has been officially concluded. The operation was jointly conducted by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Goronyo Local Government Authority, and community divers,” the statement noted.
Meanwhile, the Director General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, commended the rescue team for their diligence and the collective efforts of all stakeholders towards the success of the operation.
Recall that the tragic boat mishap occurred on Sunday, August 17, 2025, at Kojiyo village area of the Goronyo Dam, Sokoto State.
