The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Jigawa Command has confirmed the death of four persons, while five others are missing following a boat mishap in Jigawa.
The boat mishap occurred in the Taura Local Government Area of the state.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, ACSC Badruddeen Tijjani, confirmed the accident in a statement issued to newsmen in Dutse, the state capital, on Tuesday.
Tijjani stated that seven other persons survived the incident that occurred at Zangon Maje village at about 5pm on Sunday.
He explained that the incident occurred when a canoe carrying 17 passengers, mostly young girls aged 10 to 13, capsized midway between Digawa village in Jahun LGA and Zangon Maje village in Taura LGA.
“Preliminary reports confirmed that out of the 17 passengers onboard, seven were rescued alive, four dead bodies have been recovered, while five persons remain missing as of the time of this release.
“Out of the 17 passengers, 16 were females. This highlights the devastating impact of this incident on young lives,” he lamented.
The PRO further stated that rescue efforts, led by the NSCDC in partnership with local divers and community volunteers, were still ongoing to locate the missing victims.
According to him, the cause of the accident is yet unknown, and an investigation is ongoing to discover the facts surrounding the occurrence.
Tijjani informed the public that the command was taking all necessary steps to prevent future incidents and ensure safety on the state’s waterways.
The NSCDC Commander in the state, Mr. Bala Bawa, expressed deep sympathy to the affected families and communities of Digawa and Zangon Maje.
He also praised the swift response of all personnel and volunteers involved in the rescue operation and promised to provide further updates as investigation and recovery efforts progress.
