At least 46 people have reportedly died in a boat accident in Gorau community, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The boat, which was carrying 77 passengers, including farmers, women and children, reportedly capsized shortly after leaving the community on Thursday morning.

The Sokoto State Police Command confirmed that 46 bodies had been recovered, while 15 passengers were rescued alive.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Ahmed Rufai, said rescue teams were still searching for 16 people who remained missing at the time of filing this report.

“Forty-six corpses have so far been recovered, while 15 persons were rescued alive. The rescue team, comprising local divers, NEMA, SEMA and the Police, is still searching for the remaining 16 persons,” Rufai said.

He added that “77 persons were on board the boat at the time of the incident”.

The search-and-rescue operation involves local divers, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the police.

The tragedy has thrown Gorau community into mourning, with families anxiously awaiting information about relatives who may still be missing.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the accident occurred on Thursday morning as passengers travelled towards their farms.

He said local divers quickly joined emergency responders in the search, with several bodies recovered from the water.

“Only a few people were initially reported rescued, while several bodies were recovered from the water. Rescue efforts are ongoing as local divers and emergency responders continue searching for those still missing,” the resident said.

He appealed to authorities to strengthen the rescue operation, noting that many families were still waiting for updates about their loved ones.

A senior NEMA official, who identified himself as Alhaji Ibrahim, also confirmed that the agency had mobilised personnel to the affected community.

“Our officials are currently on their way to the community to join the rescue operation,” he said.

The cause of the accident has not yet been established as rescue efforts continue.

The incident occurred exactly one year after a similar boat accident in Kijio community, also in Goronyo Local Government Area, raising renewed concerns about the safety of water transportation in farming communities that rely heavily on waterways.

Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Sokoto State, Manir Dan’iya, expressed grief over the incident and called for urgent steps to prevent similar tragedies.

In a statement issued by his media aide, Aminu Abdullahi, Dan’iya described the incident as a “devastating tragedy”, noting reports that some of the passengers were children between the ages of 10 and 15 travelling alongside farmers and labourers.

“I am deeply saddened by this tragic incident and the loss of precious lives in Gorau. My thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost their loved ones and those whose relatives are still missing,” he said.

Dan’iya commended local divers and residents participating in the rescue operation but urged the Sokoto State Government and emergency agencies to deploy additional personnel, medical teams and rescue equipment to the community.

He also called for the proper identification and documentation of victims to ensure affected families receive the necessary assistance.

According to him, the accident highlighted the dangers rural communities face when they depend on waterways to reach their farmlands.

“This tragedy highlights the urgent need for safer means of transportation for our farming communities. No farmer should have to risk his or her life simply to access a farm and provide food for the family,” Dan’iya said.

He called for a comprehensive assessment of waterways across Sokoto State, as well as improved regulation of boats, mandatory use of life jackets, proper training for boat operators and stronger emergency response capacity.

Dan’iya also advocated the construction of bridges and alternative crossings in communities where waterways continue to pose significant risks.

“The safety and welfare of rural communities must remain a fundamental responsibility of government, especially when citizens are travelling to their farms to produce food and sustain their families,” he said.

He condoled with the families of those who died, the people of Gorau and Goronyo Local Government Area, and residents across Sokoto State, while urging the community to remain calm and cooperate with rescue teams as the search for the missing passengers continues.

President Bola Tinubu has again defended his administration’s decision to remove the petrol subsidy, dismissing calls for the policy to be reversed as a “demonstration of serious ignorance on governance and the economy”.

Tinubu made the remarks on Thursday while receiving Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He did not identify the opponent whose position he was referring to.

“Okay, let’s look at the trajectory of history. I saw one of my opponents now say he will go back to subsidy.

“I read it. That is a demonstration of serious ignorance on governance and economy,” he said.

The President argued that the subsidy removal was necessary to strengthen government finances and enable states to meet their responsibilities to citizens.

He recalled that 27 state governments were unable to pay workers’ salaries before he assumed office in 2023 and had to rely on financial support from the Federal Government.

“Before I came here, 27 states were unable to pay salaries, not to even talk of pensioners, salaries of workers.

“In your state. I know a man who’s nicknamed Half Salary. They come to the federal, cap in hand, unable to do anything. The salary you pay feeds families,” he said.

Tinubu stressed that a large share of Nigeria’s population lives outside the Federal Capital and that state governments therefore have a major responsibility for delivering infrastructure and essential services.

“They were at the local governments. They are in the states. Where is the concentration of population? They are in the states.

“Take out the President. Regard every other person as common men, their families to feed.

“The infrastructure you embark upon on the road network, housing, school rehabilitation, hospital, healthcare pronouncements, resuscitation of healthcare, training of teachers, training of health workers to protect our vulnerable families is part of your responsibility,” he added.

Tinubu announced the removal of the petrol subsidy during his inauguration on May 29, 2023. The policy immediately became one of the most controversial aspects of his administration, as petrol prices rose and higher transportation and production costs contributed to broader cost-of-living pressures.

Despite sustained criticism from Nigerians and opposition figures, the President has continued to maintain that the decision was necessary to protect the country’s long-term economic stability.

In May, Tinubu said the removal of the subsidy had prevented an imminent national bankruptcy and created the basis for a gradual economic recovery.

The Federal Government has also continued to highlight the financial resources made available following the reform.

On Wednesday, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, said the removal of the petrol subsidy generated ₦15.8 trillion in resources for the Federation between June 2023 and December 2025.

Oyedele explained that the amount was reflected in the resources available to the three tiers of government rather than appearing as a separate credit to the Federation Account labelled “subsidy savings”.

“Between June 2023 and December 2025, subsidy savings mobilised the sum of N15.8 trillion in resources for the Federation.

“Many people will say, where is the subsidy savings? As a matter of fact, there wasn’t any alert to the Federation Account with the description ‘subsidy savings’,” Oyedele said.

The latest defence by Tinubu comes amid an ongoing debate over the economic impact of subsidy removal, with the government pointing to increased fiscal resources and critics continuing to raise concerns about its effect on household incomes and the cost of living.

Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has reassured residents of Mangu Local Government Area that his administration will take every necessary step to protect their lives, property and ancestral lands following a deadly attack in the area.

Mutfwang gave the assurance on Thursday during a visit to Bin Mper community in the Kombun District of Mangu, where several people were killed and others injured in the recent attack.

The governor described the incident as barbaric, senseless and unacceptable, stressing that the loss of innocent lives was not only an attack on the affected community but also a direct affront to him and the Plateau State Government.

Addressing residents, particularly women in the community, Mutfwang said the government would strengthen existing security arrangements and introduce additional measures to prevent further attacks on vulnerable communities.

“This is not an attack on the community alone; it is an attack on me. I pray that God will grant you peace and comfort. The police have said that some persons have been arrested, and we will follow the matter to its logical conclusion,” he said.

The governor noted that the attack occurred shortly after the state government reviewed its security architecture in collaboration with security agencies, including the new General Officer Commanding 3 Division, Nigerian Army.

He called for more proactive, intelligence-led and coordinated security operations, emphasising the need to prevent attacks on vulnerable communities before they occur.

Mutfwang condoled with families who lost loved ones and prayed for the quick recovery of those injured. He also commended Plateau youths for their courage and resilience in supporting efforts to secure their communities.

He urged residents to remain peaceful, vigilant and law-abiding, noting that tackling insecurity would require stronger cooperation among communities, traditional institutions, government authorities and security agencies.

The governor expressed confidence that sustained military operations and collective determination would help Plateau State overcome banditry, terrorism and other criminal activities threatening the peace of the state.

Before visiting the community, Mutfwang received a security briefing from the General Officer Commanding 3 Division, Nigerian Army.

He also visited the Mishkagham Mwaghavul, Da. John Putmang Hirse, to sympathise with the traditional ruler, bereaved families and the wider Mwaghavul community over the attack.

Mutfwang assured the traditional ruler that his administration would not abandon the people and reaffirmed its commitment to tackling banditry and other forms of criminality across the state.

He was accompanied by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, Mrs. Abiodun Esiet, senior government officials and heads of security agencies in Plateau State.

In his response, Hirse thanked the governor for standing with the community during its period of grief. He described the attack as senseless and deliberate.

“This is something we least expected. People were asleep when they were massacred. Mangu is one of the most peaceful local government areas. We live peacefully with our neighbours and accommodate visitors, yet we were attacked,” he said.

The traditional ruler assured that the Mwaghavul people would continue to remain peaceful and law-abiding, insisting that intimidation would not force them to abandon their ancestral land.

Also speaking, the President of the Mwaghavul Development Association Women’s Wing, Mrs. Grace Gora, sympathised with the bereaved families and urged residents, particularly women, to remain calm while supporting government and security agencies working to restore peace.

The attack on Amper in the BWI District of Mangu on Tuesday left several people dead, while others were still reported missing. It was the third attack recorded in Mangu within a week, heightening concerns over the safety of residents.

Following the incident, the General Officer Commanding 3 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Maxwell Dangana, moved his tactical office to Mangu for two weeks as the military commenced Operation Hard Nut, aimed at flushing out terrorists and restoring normalcy in the area.

The Plateau State Police Command also confirmed the arrest of a suspect linked to the attack.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has inaugurated a new interim board to oversee the operations of Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KAEDC), following the dissolution of the company’s former Board of Directors.

NERC announced the development in a post on its official X handle on Friday, stating that the new board was inaugurated on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.

The intervention followed KAEDC’s repeated failure to meet its market obligations and prescribed performance targets, prompting the regulator to take action to strengthen the company’s operations.

Through Order No. NERC/2026/08, the Commission dissolved the previous Board of Directors and established a five-member Interim Board of Special Directors.

The new board is chaired by Dr. Abdullahi Garba and will serve an initial one-year term.

NERC also appointed Abubakar Umar Hashidu as the Interim Administrator of KAEDC for an initial period of six months.

“The new leadership is expected to drive the restructuring of the distribution company, improve its performance and ensure compliance with applicable market obligations,” NERC stated.

Following the inauguration, officials of NERC, members of the new board, KAEDC management and staff embarked on stakeholder engagement visits in Kaduna.

The delegation first visited the headquarters of the One Division of the Nigerian Army in Kaduna, where they were received by the General Officer Commanding and other senior officers.

The team subsequently visited the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna and met with the Commandant and other principal officers of the institution.

The visits were part of the new management’s efforts to strengthen engagement with key stakeholders as KAEDC begins operating under the interim leadership structure.

The intervention is expected to support the restructuring of the electricity distribution company, improve service delivery and ensure that KAEDC meets its regulatory and market obligations.