In a heartbreaking turn of events, seven lives were lost in Sokoto State on Monday, June 2, 2025, after a canoe ferrying passengers between the rural communities of Gidan Hussaini and Sabon Garin Hussaini capsized. Among the dead was the canoe paddler, and not a single soul on board survived the calamity.
The fatal incident occurred around 11:00 a.m. Witnesses reported that the vessel overturned abruptly, plunging all passengers into the deep waters. Despite the frantic efforts of local residents, none of the victims could be rescued alive.
In the immediate aftermath, security operatives rushed to the scene to cordon off the riverside, attempting to control the crowd of anguished relatives, friends, and community members who gathered in despair. Rescue teams, supported by local volunteers, worked swiftly and managed to recover all the bodies. The deceased were subsequently handed over to their grieving families for burial in accordance with local customs.
The dual communities of Gidan Hussaini and Sabon Garin Hussaini have since been plunged into mourning, their residents left reeling from the shock and sorrow. Calls have grown louder for urgent government intervention to implement robust safety regulations on local waterways—many of which remain poorly supervised despite their heavy usage.
Security analyst Zagazola Makama lamented the recurring nature of such incidents, describing the situation as “a preventable tragedy if proper water transport safety protocols were in place.”
This latest disaster comes on the heels of another tragic event reported by SaharaReporters, where Reverend Father James Omeh, the Parish Priest of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Gulu, perished in a flood incident on Saturday, May 24, 2025.
The cleric was driving a white Hilux vehicle along the treacherous Lapai-Gulu Road after a torrential downpour had ravaged the area. Accompanied by a female passenger, Father Omeh reportedly tried to turn back after encountering the collapsed Lapai-Gulu bridge near Duma village. Tragically, their vehicle was overwhelmed by surging floodwaters and swept into a deep gully.
Both bodies were later discovered lifeless at the scene, thanks to the courageous efforts of local volunteers and the Sarkin Ruwa, a traditional water chief. One other person who was reportedly travelling with them remains missing as of the time of this report.
These twin tragedies underline the growing threat posed by unregulated water transport and deteriorating infrastructure in flood-prone regions of Nigeria. As climate change continues to intensify weather patterns, the danger only mounts.
Local leaders and civil society organisations are now intensifying their pleas for the government to establish comprehensive emergency response systems, reinforce infrastructure, and launch community-based awareness campaigns to safeguard lives.
For now, the rivers of Sokoto and the ravaged roads of Gulu carry the weight of unspeakable loss—and a warning that must no longer be ignored.
PIONEER NEWS 