The Sokoto State government has confirmed the death of four passengers in a boat mishap that occurred at Kojiyo village, Goronyo Local Council of the state.

The unfortunate incident occurred along the Sokoto Rima River when the boat carrying the passengers capsized at about 1:00p.m. last Sunday. The state government, in a statement on Friday by its Director-General, Media and Publicity,  Abubakar Bawa, also confirmed that five passengers were missing, while 41 others were successfully rescued.

The confirmation followed a thorough search and fact-finding exercise jointly carried out by the officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and the Goronyo Local Council.

Recall that soon after the news of the incident broke, the state government’s delegation, led by the Deputy Governor, Idris Muhammed Gobir, visited the area to condole with the people of Goronyo Local Council and the bereaved families.

During the visit, the deputy governor announced a donation of ₦20 million, 100 bags of food items for the affected families, as well as 20 motorised boats and life jackets to be distributed by the state government for use by the riverine communities across the state out of which two were given to Goronyo local council.

According to him, the gesture was aimed at safe-guarding the lives of passengers who rely on waterways in Goronyo Local Council and its surrounding.

He assured the people of the area and indeed all the riverine communities across the state of the government’s determination to continue protecting their lives and property.

The deputy governor further urged the bereaved families to accept the incident as an act of the Almighty Allah and prayed for divine protection against future occurrences.

The delegation also included the Secretary to the State Government, Muhammad Bello Sifawa; the Chief of Staff, Government House, Aminu Haliru Dikko; state APC Chairman, Isa Saddiq Achida; commissioners, special advisers, senior special assistants to the governor and other top government officials.