Five persons have died in a canoe accident in Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
The incident happened at about noon on Thursday when the canoe carrying twenty passengers capsized while crossing the Gamoda River near Nahuce village.
In a statement, the Jigawa State Police Command said upon receiving the distress call, a team of policemen, local divers, and Good Samaritans rushed to the scene in a rescue effort.
But “Regretfully, five of the passengers were found dead,” the spokesman of the Jigawa State Lawan Shiisu Adam said in the statement.
The victims have been identified as Abdurra’uf Mohd, 15; Suleman Ali, 20; Shafiu Mohd, 25; Ado Nafance, 75; and Alasan Mohd, 16 – all of Taura LGA. Efforts are ongoing to rescue the remaining passengers.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police for Jigawa State Amad Abdullahi has expressed his deep condolences to the families of the victims.
“We extend our heartfelt sympathies to the immediate families of the deceased and pray for the departed souls to find eternal peace,” he said.
This tragic incident is a stark reminder of the dangers associated with water transportation, particularly in rural areas, where such means of crossing rivers are common.
However, the police have assured the public that they will continue to work closely with local authorities to improve safety measures in the region and to prevent similar occurrences.
