28 killed in Sokoto boat mishap

Twenty-eight people have died as a result of a boat mishap in the Gidan-Magana village of Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

Speaking to The PUNCH, the village head of Gidan-Magana, Mohammed Auwalu, said the incident happened on Wednesday morning while the victims were crossing the water on a boat, heading to a nearby village called Badiyawa.

Narrating the incident, Auwalu said the boat was carrying 34 people – mostly women and children, but along the line, it plunged into a log beneath the water and capsized.

He said, “The victims who were 34 in number were going to Bodiyawa village in a canoe early in the morning today (Wednesday), and as they were moving in the water, the canoe hit a tree and capsized.”

“When it hit a tree and sunk into the water, only six people were rescued while 28 bodies were recovered,” he noted, adding that his five children were among those who died in the accident.

“The rescue operators were only able to rescue six persons alive, while 28 (dead) bodies were recovered.”

“My five children were among those that have died in the incident,” grieving auwal stated.

“As I am talking to you now, we are in the graveyard trying to bury those who have died,” concluded the village head.

Frantic efforts were made to speak with the Shagari LG Chairman, Aliyu Abubakar, to no avail, as he could not be reached as at the time of filing this report. Punch