A tragic boat accident in Sokoto State, Nigeria, has left four people dead, with 41 others rescued, authorities confirmed on Friday.
The incident occurred on Sunday, 17 August 2025, in the Kojiyo village area of the Goronyo Dam, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
A joint response team, including NEMA, the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Goronyo Local Government Authority, and community divers, conducted the rescue operation.
On Thursday, the team recovered an additional body, raising the death toll to four. A funeral prayer was held in accordance with Islamic rites, and the deceased was laid to rest immediately.
The response team visited four villages—Taku ske, Kwakwazu, Bari, and Gamiha—to verify the number of missing persons and offer condolences to affected families.
During these visits, authorities confirmed that 16 individuals had survived the mishap.
The multi-agency search and rescue operation has now been officially concluded, NEMA announced.
Zubaida Umar, NEMA’s Director General, praised the rescue team for their dedication and the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders.
The cause of the boat mishap remains under investigation, with authorities yet to release further details.
