‘WE THOUGHT WE WOULD DIE’ — JIGAWA BOAT TRAGEDY SURVIVORS RECOUNT HARROWING ORDEAL
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By; Aina Daniel
Survivors of the recent boat accident in Malamawar Yandutse, Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State, have shared chilling accounts of the tragedy, saying they feared they would never make it out alive after the overloaded canoe capsized mid-river.
The survivors also praised local fishermen and farmers whose swift intervention helped rescue dozens of passengers, preventing what they described as an even greater loss of lives.
Speaking about the incident, 17-year-old survivor, Anti Haruna, said she lost consciousness in the water and only survived because community members responded immediately.
“We believed we were going to die. People from the community quickly came with their canoes and started rescuing victims one after another. Some even dived into the river to save children and elderly people. Without them, the number of deaths would have been much higher,” she said.
Another survivor, identified simply as Fatsima, who is still receiving treatment, said the accident occurred suddenly while passengers were returning home from the rice fields.
She recalled that her hijab became trapped in the overturned canoe, leaving her submerged underwater.
“When the canoe capsized, everyone was trying to save themselves. My hijab got caught and dragged me under the water. I struggled to free myself but couldn’t. I swallowed a lot of water, lost my breath and eventually passed out. The next thing I knew, I woke up in the hospital,” she recounted.
Although grateful to have survived, Fatsima said she continues to battle emotional trauma from the incident.
“When I regained consciousness, I was in severe pain. I keep thinking about those who lost their lives. The memories of that day continue to haunt me, and it has been very difficult to recover emotionally,” she added.
Another survivor, Sawaida, also described how she slipped beneath the water before losing consciousness.
“I felt myself sinking beneath the water. I thought I was going to die. Everything became dark, and I only came to when I found myself at Ringim General Hospital,” she said.
Despite surviving the tragedy, she admitted that the traumatic memories remain vivid.
“I still hear the cries of people calling for help. Those memories remain with me every day, and I don’t think I will ever forget them,” she lamented.
The survivors blamed the disaster on the poor condition of the canoe and alleged that it was carrying more passengers than its safe capacity.
They appealed to both the Jigawa State and Federal Governments to construct a bridge across the river, arguing that it would provide a safer means of transportation and help prevent similar tragedies, particularly during the rainy season.
The boat accident has claimed at least 10 lives, while 23 passengers have been rescued. Search and rescue operations are continuing as emergency responders and community volunteers work to locate those still missing.
The Jigawa State Police Command had earlier disclosed that the boat, carrying more than 40 passengers, mostly female farmers and labourers, capsized on Sunday. Initial rescue efforts recovered one body, with dozens reported missing. By Monday, police confirmed that 23 survivors had been rescued, while eight additional bodies had been recovered.
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