At least four girls drowned in a pond on Saturday in the Malkaderi Village in the Gagarawa Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
Lawan Adam, the Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday.
“In a tragic and devastating incident reported to the command on September 28, 2024, at about 1530hrs, five teenagers, all female, went swimming in a pond at Malkaderi village, Gagarawa LGA, on the same date at about 1100hrs.
“But unfortunately, four of them, namely: Saina’u Musa, 12; Fiddausi Ado, 11; Habiba Musa, 12′ Bahijja Musa, 13, were found drowned and floating in the pond, while Sahura Audu, 8; was still struggling,” Adam said.
He stated that after receiving the complaint, a team of police officers and local divers went to the location and began a rescue effort, saying, “The victims were all evacuated from the pond and rushed to the Gagarawa Primary Health Centre.”
According to him, the medical doctor on duty confirmed four victims’ deaths, while Sahura was resuscitated, treated, and released.
The bodies were later returned to their families for proper burial.
AT Abdullahi, the Jigawa State Commissioner of Police, expressed his sympathies to the deceased’s families and relatives, praying for them eternal peace.
The police chief advised parents and guardians to keep a tight eye on their children’s whereabouts and to avoid swimming in any body of water, particularly during the rainy season when the volume of most ponds, rivers, and streams is larger.
