The Gummi Emirate in Zamfara State has confirmed that 16 people died in a boat mishap while another two bodies are still missing.
Secretary of the Emirate, Alhaji Surajo Zaki, confirmed this in a telephone interview.
The mishap occurred when people from Danmaga village in Birnin Tudu District of Gummi Emirate were fleeing in fear of bandits after they received information that the marauders were on their way to attack the village.
There are, however, discrepancies on the figure of the victims
One of the relatives of the victims Rabi’u Birnin Magaji said they were still searching for 17 bodies but that 14 bodies had been recovered while three were missing and others were hospitalized.
“What actually transpired is that my community had privileged information that bandits were on their way to attack us, and we tried to flee across the river on an overloaded boat which resulted in the boat mishap,’’ Rabi’u lamented.
When asked about the number of people conveyed in the boat, Rabi’u said the canoe carried between 50 and 55 people, including babies and children.
“Report from the District Head of Birnin Tudu put the figure of passengers onboard at 50, which, in an ideal situation, was supposed to be 25 but due to the fact that the people running for safety from bandits, the boat was loaded. Sixteen bodies were recovered as the rescue team are still searching,’’ Surajo Zaki said.
However, yesterday evening, the Emirate said the boat had on board 46 people before the mishap and that 15 bodies were recovered while two were still missing.
“Based on the reports the Emirate gathered this Sunday evening from the Acting District Head of Birnin Magaji,14 death bodies were recovered.
Zaki read the letter sent by the District Head of Birnin Tudu to the emirate.
It stated: “I Alhaji Hamza Yusuf the District Head of Birnin Tudu, want to notify our Emirate that on Friday 29/08/2025 Internally Displaced Persons (IDP’s) from Danmaga village under Birnin Magaji District on their way to cross river at Nasarawar Kifi in Birnin Tudu District and they were overloaded and the driver of the boat tried to convince the passengers to reduce the load but he was overwhelmed fear of Bandits attacks and the boat capsized,16 people were dead and the names are…’’
Zaki said another report from the District Head of Birnin Magaji confirmed that the 46 passengers were onboard out of which 29 survives and are in hospital while 15 bodies were recovered and two are still on search,’’ the Emirate Secretary said.
The Gummi Local Government has set a committee under the chairmanship of Alhaji Amadu Dogo to deliver relief materials to the family of the victims.
“The local government delivered one bag of guinea corn and a millet with N50,000. This is the actual happening and I will notify his Royal Highness and if there is any development I will let youknow,’’ the Emirate Secretary said.
The state Executive Secretary, Emergency Management Agency, Amb. Bala, who spoke through his Director, Operations, said, the rescue team was yet to arrive at the village to access the situation.