The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed that 41 persons were rescued while four others lost their lives in the recent boat accident at Goronyo Dam, Sokoto State.
In a statement on Friday, NEMA’s Head of Press Unit, Manzo Ezekiel, said the death toll rose following the recovery of another body earlier in the day. A funeral prayer was held in line with Islamic rites, and the victim was immediately buried.
According to the agency, the joint rescue team on Thursday, August 21, visited four villages—Takuske, Kwakwazu, Bari, and Gamiha—where most of the passengers aboard the ill-fated boat resided. The visits helped to verify the number of missing persons and allowed officials to commiserate with bereaved families. During the visits, it was also confirmed that 16 passengers had survived the mishap.
NEMA noted that the multi-agency search and rescue mission has now been concluded. The operation was conducted in collaboration with the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Goronyo Local Government Authority, and local divers.
The agency’s Director General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, commended the rescue team for their diligence and praised the cooperation of all stakeholders involved.
The tragic accident occurred on Sunday, August 17, 2025, around the Kojiyo village axis of the Goronyo Dam.
