Tragedy struck in Jigawa State on Sunday evening when an overloaded canoe carrying 15 children capsized, leaving six confirmed dead and two still unaccounted for. The incident occurred around 8:15 pm as the children were returning from a farm in Jejin Gunka to their village, Zangwan Maje, in Taura Local Government Area.
Confirming the incident in a statement on Tuesday, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Jigawa State Command, SP Shi’isu Adam, said the canoe overturned due to a combination of flooding, high winds, and overloading.
Adam revealed that a rapid rescue effort involving the police and local divers led to the safe recovery of seven children, identified as:
- Rukayya Abdullahi, 9
- Ibrahim Garba, 12
- Fatima Yusuf, 10
- Suwaiba Yahaya, 20
- Rukayya Saleh, 18
- Jawahira Samaila, 10
- Sakina Sule, 11
Sadly, six children lost their lives in the mishap. Their bodies were recovered and confirmed dead by a medical officer. The victims were:
- Hare Abdullahi, 12
- Halima Ma’azu, 12
- Nasiba Yahya, 15
- Saima Yusuf, 25
- Amina Sule, 11
- Saiya Abdullahi, 18
Efforts are still ongoing to locate the two missing children, as search and recovery operations continue.
Authorities disclosed that the canoe operator fled the scene following the accident. “Efforts are underway to locate, arrest, and prosecute him,” Adam said.
The tragic event has triggered widespread concern over the safety of rural children and water travel in underserved communities. Many community leaders, safety experts, and parents are now calling on the government to upgrade rural transport infrastructure, enforce strict water safety regulations, and provide better support for vulnerable populations to prevent similar disasters in the future.
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