Sokoto State has been thrown into mourning after more than 40 people were reported missing when a passenger boat capsized on the Shagari River on Saturday.
The wooden vessel, which was carrying traders and villagers heading to a nearby market, reportedly overturned midway through the journey, plunging everyone onboard into the water. Witnesses say the boat was overloaded with passengers and goods, a recurring problem in riverine communities where water transport is often the only option.
Rescue efforts by local divers, fishermen, and emergency teams were immediately launched, but as of press time, dozens remain unaccounted for. Families of the missing passengers have since gathered anxiously by the riverbank, awaiting word on their loved ones.
Authorities have described the incident as a national tragedy. The Sokoto State Government, in collaboration with the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and emergency agencies, has pledged to strengthen waterway safety and prevent future disasters. Officials stressed the urgent need for enforcement of passenger limits, provision of life jackets, and stricter regulation of river transport.
Boat accidents remain a recurring nightmare across Nigeria’s waterways, often linked to poor oversight and disregard for safety protocols. This latest tragedy has once again exposed the vulnerabilities faced by rural communities dependent on river transport.
For now, Sokoto mourns as search and rescue operations continue, with hopes fading and grief deepening for families left in limbo by the Shagari River disaster.