41 Rescued, Four Confirmed Dead in Sokoto Boat Mishap – NEMA

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed that 41 persons were rescued and four fatalities recorded in the boat accident that occurred at Goronyo Dam, Sokoto State, on Sunday, 17 August 2025.

In a statement issued on Friday by its Head of Press Unit, Manzo Ezekiel, NEMA explained that the death toll rose to four after an additional body was recovered earlier in the day. A funeral prayer was held in accordance with Islamic rites before the deceased was laid to rest.

Search and Rescue Operations

Ezekiel noted that as part of the operations on Thursday, 21 August, the joint response team visited four affected villages—Takuske, Kwakwazu, Bari, and Gamiha—to verify the number of missing persons and console bereaved families.

During the visits, it was confirmed that 16 persons had survived the accident, in addition to earlier rescues.

Following these findings, the multi-agency search and rescue effort was officially concluded. The operation was jointly carried out by NEMA, the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Goronyo Local Government Authority, and local community divers.

Commendation

NEMA’s Director General, Zubaida Umar, praised the diligence of the rescue team and the cooperation of all stakeholders involved in the operation.

The tragic incident, which took place near Kojiyo village at the Goronyo Dam, left the community in mourning, highlighting once again the recurring dangers of boat mishaps in Nigeria’s inland waterways.