At least six people have been confirmed dead and three others declared missing after a boat carrying villagers capsized in Garin Faji, a community in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The tragic incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday when residents, attempting to flee an oncoming attack by suspected bandits, rushed into a canoe that later overturned.
Eyewitnesses said panic gripped the community as villagers spotted armed men advancing toward them. In a desperate bid to escape, dozens of people tried to cross the river at once, overwhelming the boat’s capacity.
“They rushed into the canoe, but it could not carry them all and it capsized midway,” a resident recounted.
Second Boat Mishap in One Week
This is the second fatal boat accident in less than a week in Sokoto State. Just six days earlier, four people drowned in a similar tragedy in neighbouring Goronyo Local Government Area, underscoring the worsening humanitarian crisis triggered by insecurity in the region.
Local sources revealed that many villagers no longer sleep in their homes for fear of night raids, choosing instead to take refuge in the bush. The victims of Thursday’s tragedy were said to be returning from such hideouts when disaster struck.
Lawmaker Confirms Incident
Confirming the development, Hon. Aminu Boza, the member representing Sabon Birni in the Sokoto State House of Assembly, lamented the dire security situation.
“Some communities are now completely deserted. Most men spend the night in the bush and only return home in the morning,” he said.
He acknowledged that the deployment of armoured personnel carriers (APCs) to the area had helped security forces record some gains.
“Just two days ago, security personnel foiled an attack and arrested four suspected bandits. But the area still requires more security presence,” he added.
Emergency Response
The Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has also confirmed the incident, disclosing that 19 people were rescued from the river while search efforts were still underway for those missing.
A senior SEMA official said the agency had already visited Garin Faji alongside officials from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), and the Red Cross.
According to him, casualty figures are being collated, and a joint report on the incident will soon be made public.
Insecurity Driving Tragedies
The latest accident highlights the devastating toll of insecurity on rural communities in Sokoto and other parts of the North-West, where banditry has displaced thousands, disrupted farming, and forced residents into desperate survival strategies.
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