By Femi Osinusi
Tragedy struck Zalla Bango, a community in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, on Thursday evening when a boat carrying residents capsized, leaving several feared dead.
Eyewitnesses said the victims were mostly women trying to escape renewed bandit attacks in the area. The boat reportedly hit the edge of a collapsed bridge along the Goronyo–Sabon Birni road and sank.
“Many residents have resorted to fleeing their communities, crossing the river to safer areas,” a source told reporters, adding that this was not the first such accident in recent months. Another resident recalled similar tragedies earlier in the year, blaming insecurity for forcing people into dangerous river crossings.
While the exact number of casualties remains uncertain, conflicting reports suggest between six and twelve people may have drowned.
The Chairman of Sabon Birni Local Government, Alhaji Ayuba Hashimu, confirmed the incident. He said search and rescue efforts were ongoing to account for all the passengers. “As of this morning, only one body – that of a woman – has been recovered from the river,” he said.
Hashimu, who visited the accident site, explained that villagers were attempting to cross the river to evade another wave of attacks when disaster struck. “The boat hit the edge of a collapsed bridge, which caused it to break and eventually sink. We are doing everything possible to rescue survivors and retrieve the bodies of the deceased,” he assured.
The latest tragedy comes barely a month after six people drowned in a similar boat mishap at Garin Faji, another Sabon Birni community, under similar circumstances of residents fleeing terrorist attacks.
The recurring incidents highlight the dangerous choices faced by villagers in Sokoto State, who continue to risk their lives on unsafe waters to escape relentless bandit violence.
