Boat mishap claimed numerous lives in Zalla Bango, a remote community in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, as locals attempted to escape recent armed bandit raids.
Eyewitnesses say most victims were women crossing a river in haste to evade the looming threat of bandits. According to these witnesses, many people have taken to crossing water bodies to reach safer locations thought to be less accessible by attackers.
The catastrophe unfolded Thursday evening shortly after Maghrib prayers when the boat struck a broken culvert edge on the Goronyo-Sabon Birni road, causing it to break apart and sink. This area has seen similar tragedies this year due to worsening insecurity.
A similar mishap occurred last month in Garin Faji, another Sabon Birni community, where six individuals drowned while escaping militants.
Reports at that time state that, between six to twelve people may have perished. While Sabon Birni Local Government chairman, Alhaji Ayuba Hashimu, confirmed the incident but said authorities are still verifying casualty numbers. Hashimu added that as of this morning, only one body, that of a woman, has been recovered.
The local area chief also revealed that the Sokoto State Government had recently supplied motorized boats and life jackets to flood-prone councils, including Sabon Birni, just one day before the incident.
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