JIGAWA CONFIRMS SIX DEAD, 23 RESCUED AFTER CANOE MISHAP
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By:Tajudeen Aminat
The Jigawa State Government has confirmed that six bodies have been recovered while 23 passengers were rescued following a canoe accident in Ringim Local Government Area of the state.
The Commissioner for Special Duties and Humanitarian Affairs, Auwalu Danladi Sankara, disclosed this during a sympathy visit to the Malamawar Yandutse community, where the incident occurred.
Sankara said the tragedy happened around 1 p.m. on Sunday when a canoe carrying between 30 and 40 passengers capsized while attempting to cross the river.
According to him, 23 passengers were rescued alive, while six bodies have been retrieved so far. He added that search and rescue efforts are still ongoing to locate other passengers who remain missing.
The commissioner noted that the recovered victims would be buried in line with Islamic burial traditions.
Speaking on behalf of the affected community, Aminu Kafinta blamed the incident on overloading, stating that the canoe was carrying more passengers than its capacity allowed.
“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,” he said.
Kafinta appealed to the state government to urgently address the recurring boat accidents in the area by providing a permanent solution.
He called for the construction of a bridge across the river to ensure safer transportation for residents, noting that similar accidents have occurred almost every year in the community.
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