At least 15 villagers have reportedly lost their lives after their boat capsized on the waterway along Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
It was gathered that the incident occurred Tuesday evening, October 18, 2022.
The victims were going to a neigbouring village to attend Maulud Nabiy celebration, in commemoration of Prophet Muhammad’s birthday.
The Chairman of the local government council, Aliyu Abubakar Dantani, who confirmed the incident, said the victims came from different villages.
“They were 25 onboard when the boat capsized but 10 of them were rescued alive.
“They came from four different villages, converged on one of the villages and from there they entered the canoe,” the chairman said.
“They were on their way to another village for the annual Moulud festival but the boat capsized before they reached their destination.
“Fifteen persons drowned but their bodies were later recovered and buried according to the Islamic rites.”
According to Dantani, four of the victims were from Gidan Raket village, three from Gidan Dawa, seven from Sabon Garin Sullubawa and one girl from Tsohon Garin Sullubawa.
On the promise made by Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal in 2021 to provide life jackets in the reverine villages around the local government, the chairman said that “it is still on course.”
