The National Emergency Management Agency, Nema, reported that only 21 of 30 passengers survived after a canoe overturned in Garin-Faji, Local Government Area of ​​Sabon-Birni of the State of Sokoto.
In a statement on Sunday for its head of the press unit, Manzo Ezequiel, the agency said that six bodies were recovered from the river, while three others are still missing.
According to Nema, 30 people participated in the Canoa accident, which happened on Friday, and the search and rescue operation is ongoing to locate missing people.
The agency added that the recovered bodies were buried according to the Islamic rites before the arrival of the joint response team to the village.
The statement indicated that Nema and the Operations Office of Sokoto responded to the incident on Saturday, along with other interested parties, including Nika, Sema, the Nigerian army, the Nigerian Red Cross, the Ministry of Works of the State of Sokoto, the member that represents Sabon-Birni in the House of the Assembly of the State of Sokoto, the officials of the local government and the traditional leaders.
Nema asked the relevant regulatory authorities with jurisdiction on the country’s river ways to enforce compliance with security protocols and standards in the use of canoes and ships, particularly guaranteeing the use of life vests by the crew and passengers.
The statement also confirmed that the state operation is monitoring search and rescue efforts and will continue to provide updates on the incident.