By Nkechi Eze
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed the rescue of 15 more persons in the ongoing search and rescue operation following the tragic boat accident that occurred on Sunday, 17 August 2025 in Kojiyo village, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The additional rescues bring the total number of survivors to 25, while another 25 people remain missing. In a statement issued by Manzo Ezekiel of the NEMA Press Unit, the Director General of the Agency, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, assured that rescue efforts would be sustained and further intensified until every possible life is accounted for.
The incident occurred when a canoe carrying more than 50 passengers travelling to the Goronyo Market capsized in the Kojiyo area. Ten persons were rescued shortly after the mishap, while intensified rescue efforts over the past 48 hours led to the successful recovery of 15 more survivors. Seven motorcycles were also recovered from the river during the operation.
To facilitate the rescue efforts, the management of the Goronyo Dam has temporarily shut the dam for a period of two days, granting divers and emergency responders improved access to the accident site.
The NEMA team, led by the Head of the Agency’s Sokoto Operations Office, Mr. Aliyu Shehu Kafindangi, remains fully deployed at the scene of the disaster. The search and rescue operation is being carried out in collaboration with the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), the Goronyo Local Government Authority and local divers.
Mrs. Umar reiterated NEMA’s unwavering commitment to saving lives and supporting affected families, adding that the Agency will continue to provide timely updates to the public as the operation progresses.
