25 rescued, 25 missing in Sokoto boat mishap – NEMA

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Monday confirmed that 50 passengers were en route to Goronyo Market in Sunday’s tragic boat mishap in Kojiyo village, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

In a statement signed by the agency’s Head of Press Unit, Manzo Ezekiel, NEMA said the latest rescue brings the total number of survivors to 25, while 25 others remain missing.

The statement noted that the Director General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, also assured that rescue operations will be sustained and further intensified until all missing persons are rescued.

“Recalled that the ill-fated canoe, carrying over 50 passengers en route to Goronyo Market, capsized in Kojiyo village on Sunday. Initial operations had led to the rescue of 10 passengers, while the intensified efforts yielded an additional 15 rescues. Authorities also recovered seven motorcycles from the river.

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“To enhance the effectiveness of the operation, the management of Goronyo Dam has temporarily closed the dam for two days, allowing divers and rescuers greater access to the affected area,” it stated.

It said the NEMA rescue team, led by the Head of the Agency’s Sokoto Operations Office, Mr. Aliyu Shehu Kafindangi, remains fully deployed at the scene.

“The team is working in close collaboration with the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Goronyo Local Government Authority, and local divers to sustain the coordinated search and rescue operations.

“The Director General, Mrs Zubaida Umar, reaffirmed NEMA’s unwavering commitment to saving lives, supporting affected families, and providing timely updates to the public,” it added.