The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed that four people have died while 41 others were rescued following the recent boat mishap in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
In a statement issued on Friday by the agency’s Head of Press Unit, Manzo Ezekiel, NEMA said the death toll rose after another body was recovered earlier in the day. The victim has since been buried according to Islamic rites.
According to NEMA, the joint response team extended its rescue operations on Thursday, August 21, to four villages — Takuske, Kwakwazu, Bari, and Gamiha — where many passengers of the ill-fated boat were from.
“As part of the Thursday 21st August, 2025 rescue operations, the response team visited four villages: Takuske, Kwakwazu, Bari and Gamiha, where many of the passengers of the ill-fated boat were said to have resided. The visits provided an opportunity to verify the number of persons still missing and to commiserate with families who lost their loved ones. During the visits, it was also confirmed that 16 persons had survived the mishap,” the statement explained.
With the recovery and confirmation of survivors, the agency said the search and rescue exercise has now been brought to a close.
“Following these developments, the multi-agency search and rescue operation has been officially concluded. The operation was jointly conducted by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Goronyo Local Government Authority, and community divers,” the statement noted.
The Director General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, commended the collaborative effort of all agencies involved. She praised the rescue team for their diligence and the collective efforts of all stakeholders towards the success of the operation.
