30 Feared Dead As Canoe Carrying Passengers Capsizes In Jigawa
By AgricNews Digest
No fewer than 30 people are feared dead after a canoe capsized in Guri Local Government Area of Jigawa State on Saturday evening.
The incident occurred around 7:00pm at Adiyani village when the canoe conveying passengers from Garbi village in Nguru Local Government Area of Yobe State to Adiyani village in Guri LGA overturned mid-river.
According to the Jigawa State Police Command, the canoe was carrying about 40 passengers when it capsized.
SP Lawan Shiisu Adam, the Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed that 16 people have been confirmed dead, 10 were rescued alive, while 14 others remain missing.
“Rescue operation is still going on to find the missing bodies while investigation is ongoing on the cause of the incident,” he said. Police operatives, in collaboration with local divers and community members, launched the search immediately after the accident.
Preliminary reports indicate the victims were travelling between communities when the accident occurred. Authorities noted that overcrowding and safety violations are common factors in such mishaps.
The police have warned residents to avoid overcrowding canoes and to adhere strictly to safety measures, especially during river crossings. The Jigawa State Government has also expressed concern and called for increased vigilance among riverine communities to prevent similar tragedies.
Boat accidents remain frequent on Nigeria’s poorly regulated waterways, particularly during the rainy season. In the past few months, similar incidents have been reported in Jigawa, Sokoto, and Zamfara states, with dozens of farmers losing their lives while crossing rivers to their farms.
Experts and community leaders continue to urge stricter enforcement of passenger limits, use of life jackets, and a ban on night journeys to curb the rising casualties.
Our thoughts are with the families of the victims in Guri LGA and across the affected communities. May the missing be found, and may those rescued recover fully.
