The body of a 15-year-old boy has been recovered from a pond in Gabari village, Garki Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
Confirming the incident on Thursday in a statement issued in Dutse, the state capital, the spokesperson of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Jigawa State Command, ASC Badaruddeen Tijjani, said the deceased, Sunusi Abubakar, was discovered lifeless in the pond locally known as Mahayin gidan Toro, about 1.5 kilometres north of Gabari village, around 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday.
Tijjani explained that the boy’s shoes and trousers were first noticed abandoned at the riverbank on September 30, which raised alarm among villagers.
According to the teenager’s father, Abubakar Gabari, his son had gone to swim in the pond around 5:00 p.m. but never returned home, prompting an immediate search by community members.
The NSCDC confirmed that the corpse showed no visible injuries and was handed over to the family for burial according to Islamic rites.
Tijjani urged residents to remain cautious around open water sources to prevent further tragedies, stressing that the Jigawa NSCDC is committed to protecting lives and property while promoting greater public safety awareness.
“Residents are encouraged to report unsafe areas to security agencies for timely intervention,” he added.
The statement further quoted the commandant, Muhammad Ingawa, as appealing to parents and community leaders to caution children against unsafe swimming in open water.
“The NSCDC’s efforts aim to create a safer environment for all Jigawa citizens,” it concluded.
Drowning cases remain common in Jigawa and other northern states, particularly during the rainy season when ponds, rivers, and irrigation channels become swollen. Many of these water bodies remain unfenced and often serve as swimming spots for children.
Past incidents underline the trend: in September 2024, four teenage girls drowned in a pond in Malkaderi village, Gagarawa LGA, while another tragedy in Buji LGA claimed three girls aged between 12 and 13. In Birninkudu LGA, two young men also lost their lives while attempting to cross a pond to a nearby market.
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