At least 13 persons died and 22 others were missing in Zamfara State after the boat they crowded in order to escape an attack by armed men sank in a river, residents and officials told Reuters News Agency on Saturday.
According to the report, the assailants stormed two communities in Birnin Magaji ward on Friday afternoon, sending residents fleeing towards a nearby riverbank that had a single boat, residents told Reuters.
“My eldest son and two other nieces were among the 13 people who died when the boat was overloaded with terrified people,” Shehu Mohammed, a health worker in Birnin Magaji, told Reuters.
Maidamma Dankilo, the district head of Birnin Magaji, said 13 people from the boat had been confirmed dead, 22 had been rescued and 22 others were still missing.
Gunmen killed at least two people and abducted more than 100 last weekend in an attack some 150 kilometres west of Birnin Magaji.
Zamfara recorded 50 mass abductions between July 2024 and June 2025, involving 1,064 victims, according to a report by Lagos-based research firm, SBM Intelligence.
READ ALSO: Bandits raping our wives, daughters for failing to pay N2m levy per community —Zamfara residents
WATCH TOP VIDEOS FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE TV
- Let’s Talk About SELF-AWARENESS
- Is Your Confidence Mistaken for Pride? Let’s talk about it
- Is Etiquette About Perfection…Or Just Not Being Rude?
- Top Psychologist Reveal 3 Signs You’re Struggling With Imposter Syndrome
- Do You Pick Up Work-Related Calls at Midnight or Never? Let’s Talk About Boundaries
and then