By James
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Another fatal boat mishap has occurred at Faji community in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, leaving six persons dead and three missing.
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) Area Manager in Sokoto, Mr Bala Bello, confirmed on Sunday in Sokoto that six persons died, 19 survivors were rescued while three people were still missing in the fresh mishap
Bello, who said the incident occurred on August 22, attributed it to negligence, canoe overloading and safety rules violation.
He explained that a team of Inspectors, comprising officials from NIWA, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and Red Cross Society had visited the affected community.
Bello said the team confirmed the casualty figures while search and rescue operations were ongoing to locate the three missing persons.
The Area Manager restated that NIWA had been engaging riverine communities on safety measures, guidelines, use of life jackets and other considerations on water usage.
NAN recalled that Sokoto State Government confirmed the death of four passengers, 41 survivors and five missing persons in a previous boat mishap on August 17, at Kojiyo village in Goronyo local government area in the state.
The unfortunate incident reportedly occurred along the Sokoto Rima River, when the boat conveying the passengers capsized. (NAN)
