Sokoto: The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has reported that over 40 out of 50 persons are missing in a boat mishap that occurred in the North-west of Sokoto, Kogiyo Ward, Goronyo Local Government Area, Sokoto State, on Sunday at noon.
The agency disclosed this on its X handle through a statement by Zubaida Umar, NEMA’s Director General, who added that the passenger boat, which was conveying 50 persons en route to Goronyo Market, a well-known food produce market in the State, left only ten passengers confirmed dead, while six were rescued.
NEMA said it is collaborating with local authorities and emergency responders in a search and rescue operation to locate the missing persons.
Initial findings suggest the boat might have capsized as a result of overloading.
Both NEMA and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) have dispatched a response team to the scene, as search and rescue operations are underway, with the local response team collaborating with other authorities to find the missing persons.
Meanwhile, the mood in Kojiyo is said to be calm and pathetic as victims’ families despair amid condolences.
The media reported three weeks ago that at least 13 people died, while dozens more were declared missing when a boat conveying about 100 passengers capsized in Niger State.