BY GODWIN OBI
Tragedy struck in Sokoto State as 10 villagers lost their lives in a boat accident while fleeing from armed bandits in Zalla Bango, a remote community in Sabon Birni Local Government Area.
The Sokoto State Police Command confirmed the heartbreaking incident, noting that all the passengers aboard drowned when their boat struck the edge of a collapsed culvert and sank. Police spokesman, DSP Ahmed Rufai, said the corpses were later recovered and buried according to Islamic rites last Friday.
“The incident happened as the villagers were desperately trying to escape from bandits. Unfortunately, all 10 passengers drowned, and their remains have since been buried,” Rufai explained.
The Chairman of Sabon Birni Local Government Area, Alhaji Ayuba Hashimu, who visited the scene, said frantic efforts were still ongoing to ascertain the total number of victims and rescue possible survivors.
Meanwhile, Sokoto police also confirmed another attack in Santana village, Tangaza Local Government Area, where terrorists killed the 47-year-old village head, Murtala Sa’adu, along with his neighbour, Ibrahim Maikudi.
Recurring Boat Tragedies in Sokoto
Boat mishaps have become a recurring tragedy in Sokoto, often linked to villagers attempting to flee terrorist attacks.
In August, a 29-year-old man was found dead following a boat accident in Shagari Local Government Area, where many passengers went missing. That same month, six lives were lost and three others declared missing after a boat capsized in Garin Faji, Sabon Birni, also during a bandit raid. Nineteen people were, however, rescued.
The repeated cycle of attacks and desperate escapes highlights the growing humanitarian crisis in the region, where insecurity continues to force villagers into perilous journeys across rivers in search of safety.
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2025-09-18