The Jigawa State Government has confirmed that six people have died while 23 others were rescued after a canoe carrying dozens of passengers capsized in Ringim Local Government Area of the state.
The State Commissioner for Special Duties and Humanitarian Affairs, Auwalu Danladi Sankara, confirmed the incident while addressing journalists during a condolence visit to the Malamawar Yandutse community, where the accident occurred.
According to the commissioner, the tragedy happened at about 1 p.m. on Sunday when a canoe carrying an estimated 30 to 40 passengers overturned while attempting to cross a river.
Sankara said rescue teams were able to save 23 passengers, while six bodies have so far been recovered from the water.
He added that search and rescue operations are still underway to locate other passengers believed to be missing, noting that those whose bodies have been recovered will be buried in accordance with Islamic rites.
A community representative, Aminu Kafinta, blamed the accident on overloading, saying residents had warned the passengers that the canoe was carrying more people than it could safely accommodate.
“We saw them boarding the canoe and warned them that it could not carry all of them. We advised them to reduce the number of passengers, but unfortunately they did not listen, and the canoe capsized almost immediately,” Kafinta said.
He appealed to the Jigawa State Government to provide a permanent solution to the recurring accidents along the river by constructing a bridge to improve transportation and reduce the risk of similar tragedies.
Kafinta noted that fatal boat accidents have become a recurring challenge in the area, with similar incidents occurring almost every year.
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