Fear and sorrow have engulfed Sokoto State after several villagers lost their lives in a boat mishap while fleeing a fresh wave of terrorist attacks in Sabon Birni Local Government Area.
The Sokoto State Police Command confirmed the incident on Saturday, disclosing that search and rescue operations were still ongoing to recover the missing victims. Authorities, however, noted that the exact number of passengers on board the ill-fated vessel had yet to be determined.
Eyewitness Accounts of Horror
According to locals, the victims were desperate villagers escaping marauding Lakurawa terrorists when their overloaded boat capsized mid-river. Panic, chaos, and cries for help filled the air, but only a few survived the tragedy.
This marks the fourth deadly boat accident in less than two months in Sokoto, sparking outrage over the worsening humanitarian crisis caused by insecurity and unsafe water transport.
Communities Under Siege
Sabon Birni and surrounding villages have remained under constant attacks from armed groups, who kill, abduct, burn farmlands, and mount illegal checkpoints, forcing thousands into displacement.
Ironically, Sabon Birni is the hometown of Sokoto’s Deputy Governor, Idris Muhammad Gobir — a stark reminder that insecurity spares no community, regardless of political prominence.
Mounting Criticism
Civil society groups and community leaders have blasted authorities for failing to provide both security and safe transport, accusing the government of negligence. Security experts also warn that Sokoto risks being plunged into an endless cycle of bloodshed and disasters unless urgent measures are taken.
For now, heartbroken families continue to wait by the riverbanks, praying for their missing loved ones, even as hope fades with each passing hour.
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