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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Conflict & Security

‘Insecurity, boat accident raising death rate in Sokoto’

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Sokoto State's governorship candidate Manir Dan’iya expressed alarm over a surge in deaths, potentially exceeding 100 in 10 days due to insecurity and a boat accident.
  • He criticized the state and federal governments for a lack of urgent action and inadequate protection of citizens.
  • Dan’iya warned that continued killings and displacement could impact the 2027 elections and called for improved security and waterway safety.

Manir Dan’iya, the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress in Sokoto State, has voiced grave concern over a significant increase in deaths across the state, describing it as a worsening security and humanitarian crisis. He estimates that over 100 people may have lost their lives in separate incidents within the last 10 days.

The scale and frequency of these tragedies should be a wake-up call to the Sokoto State Government and the Federal Government.

— Manir Dan’iyaExpressing the urgency of the current security and humanitarian situation.

Dan’iya cited recent bandit attacks in Ungushi, Kebbe Local Government Area, and incidents in Wurno and Silame local government areas. He also pointed to the Gorau boat accident in Goronyo Local Government Area, where the death toll had risen to 53. He stated that the frequency of these tragedies demands urgent action from both the Sokoto State and Federal Governments.

Government cannot continue to treat the loss of citizens’ lives as isolated incidents when communities are facing killings, insecurity, displacement and preventable tragedies.

— Manir Dan’iyaCriticizing the government's perceived inaction and lack of a comprehensive approach to the crises.

"The scale and frequency of these tragedies should be a wake-up call to the Sokoto State Government and the Federal Government," Dan’iya said in a statement. He accused authorities of failing to demonstrate the necessary urgency, leaving many residents living in fear. He stressed that protecting lives and property is the government's primary responsibility, arguing that infrastructure projects cannot compensate for lost lives.

No amount of infrastructure, commissioning ceremonies or political programmes can compensate for lives lost when citizens are not adequately protected.

— Manir Dan’iyaEmphasizing that security and protection of life should be the government's top priority.

Dan’iya also questioned the timing of recent project inaugurations by the state government, suggesting they were politically motivated ahead of the 2027 elections. He called for transparency in project implementation and expenditure, urging the government to prioritize security and humanitarian challenges over political activities. He warned that persistent killings and displacement could disenfranchise voters in the upcoming elections.

If the killings continue at this rate, there may be fewer people left in these communities to participate in the 2027 elections.

— Manir Dan’iyaWarning about the potential impact of ongoing violence on the electoral process.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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