Six dead, 15 rescued as Jigawa canoe accident leaves several missing

Six dead, 15 rescued as Jigawa canoe accident leaves several missing

A tragic Jigawa canoe accident has claimed the lives of at least six people, while 15 others have been rescued after a canoe carrying about 40 passengers capsized in Malamawa village, Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

The incident occurred at about 4:00 p.m. on Sunday when the canoe, which was transporting passengers across a river, overturned midway through the journey. Rescue operations are still underway as emergency responders search for several passengers who remain missing.

Confirming the incident, the Jigawa State Commissioner for Special Duties, Auwal Sankara, said six bodies had so far been recovered, while 15 people were rescued alive from the water.

“We have so far recovered six bodies and rescued 15 persons alive. Search operations are still ongoing,” Sankara said.

He assured residents that the state government would continue the search operation until every passenger involved in the accident had been accounted for.

“We will continue the rescue mission until every single person is found, dead or alive,” he added.

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Officials of the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), local divers, security personnel and community volunteers have been deployed to the scene to intensify rescue efforts. Authorities said the exact number of people still missing is yet to be determined as efforts continue to verify the passenger manifest.

Eyewitnesses said the canoe was carrying approximately 40 passengers when it capsized. Preliminary accounts suggest the vessel may have been overloaded, although investigators are yet to officially determine the cause of the accident.

Authorities have urged members of the public to rely only on official updates while rescue operations continue, warning against the circulation of unverified casualty figures.

The latest boat accident in Jigawa State has once again highlighted the dangers associated with water transportation in many rural communities across Nigeria, where rivers remain a vital means of travel despite limited safety infrastructure.

Experts have repeatedly linked similar tragedies to overloading, poor maintenance of boats, failure to wear life jackets, and inadequate enforcement of inland water transport safety regulations.

The Jigawa State Government has renewed its appeal to boat operators and passengers to strictly observe safety measures, including complying with approved passenger limits, ensuring vessels are seaworthy, and making the use of life jackets compulsory before embarking on river journeys.

As the search continues, families of the missing passengers remain hopeful that more survivors will be found, while emergency officials have pledged not to end the operation until everyone aboard the ill-fated canoe has been accounted for.

Six dead, 15 rescued as Jigawa canoe accident leaves several missing