Grief has enveloped Garin-Faji village in Sabon-Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State following a canoe accident that claimed six lives and left three persons missing on Friday, 22 August 2025.
The canoe, carrying 30 passengers, capsized during a routine river crossing. Twenty-one people, including the two operators, survived the ordeal. Rescue teams later recovered six bodies, which were laid to rest according to Islamic rites before the arrival of emergency responders.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed that search and rescue operations are ongoing to find the remaining missing persons. Officials from NIWA, SEMA, the Nigerian Army, Red Cross, Sokoto State Ministry of Works, local government representatives, and traditional leaders joined the operation.
Authorities have appealed for stricter regulation of water transport and compliance with safety protocols, particularly the compulsory use of life jackets by all passengers.
For now, families in Garin-Faji wait anxiously as rescue teams continue the search for their loved ones.
