October 20, (THEWILL) – At least 15 people have been confirmed dead, after a boat accident in Mauludi village in Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The local government’s Chairman, Hon. Aliyu Shagari, while speaking with our correspondent, said the incident happened on Tuesday evening.
He said the boat, which was conveying 25 people, was on its way to Mauludi from a neighbouring village when the accident occurred.
An eyewitness account that the wooden boat was overloaded with passengers which resulted in losing its balance in the middle of the river.
In recent months, cases of boat accidents have been recurring in Shagari riverine communities.
THEWILL recalls how no fewer than 29 children were killed in a similar incident in May this year, at Gildan Magana, a coastal village within the Shagari local government areas of the state.
The state governor, Aminu Tambuwal, had in a condolence visit during another boat accident in the local government, promised to provide life jackets that will help prevent drowning in the event of such an accident.
About the Author
Tunde Omolehin is an award-winning Journalist with prose in investigative and storytelling that is connecting the dots between the under-reported communities and policymakers to ensure good governance and accountability.
