At least six persons have been confirmed dead and three others declared missing following a boat mishap in Garin Faji, Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The victims were among scores of residents fleeing a bandit attack on the community when one of the boats conveying them capsized.
The Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) confirmed the incident, saying 19 passengers were rescued alive.
A senior SEMA official, who spoke to journalists on condition of anonymity, disclosed that search and rescue operations were ongoing to locate the missing persons.
The tragedy occurred barely six days after a similar accident in Goronyo LGA, where four people lost their lives while escaping a bandit invasion.
The recurring boat mishaps have heightened concerns over the safety of residents in riverine communities, who often resort to boats as their only means of escape during attacks.
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