Authorities in Sokoto State have dismissed claims that around 150 bandits drowned in a boat accident in the Sabon Gida area of Sabon Birni Local Government Area.
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) said the reports are entirely false. Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday, NIWA Sokoto Zonal Office Area Manager, Mr. Bello Bala, stressed that the river mentioned is not navigable, making such an incident impossible.
Bala urged the public and media outlets to confirm information from credible sources before circulating it. He added that NIWA continues to engage riverine communities on water safety measures, including the use of life jackets and other precautions.
“If such an incident had occurred, it would have been reported by community leaders to the water users’ association,” Bala said.
A source from the 8 Division of the Nigerian Army in Sokoto also confirmed that no such accident occurred, noting that troops in the area had received no reports of a boat capsizing involving bandits.
(NAN)
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