The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has denied claims that about 150 bandits died in a boat accident in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The agency described the report as false. NIWA’s Area Manager for the Sokoto Zonal Office, Mr Bello Bala, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday, the 23rd of March, 2026, in Sokoto.
He said no such incident occurred and pointed out that the river mentioned in the report is not suitable for navigation.
Bala urged media platforms to verify information before publishing, warning against the spread of unconfirmed reports. He also said the agency remains open to providing accurate information when contacted.
He added that NIWA has continued to educate riverine communities on safety practices, including adherence to guidelines, proper water use, and the importance of life jackets.
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According to him, any real incident would have been reported through local water users association leaders.
In the same vein, a source from the 8 Division of the Nigerian Army in Sokoto dismissed the claim, stating that no such event took place.
The source, who did not want to be named, said troops are stationed across the affected areas and there had been no report of any boat accident involving bandits.