Jigawa boat mishap: Death toll hits 6 as search continues for missing passengerrs

From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

At least six people have been confirmed dead and 23 others rescued alive after a canoe carrying up to 40 passengers capsized in the Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
The Commissioner for Special Duties and Humanitarian Affairs, Auwalu Danladi Sankara, confirmed the casualty figures during a condolence visit to the affected Malamawar Yandutse community.
The incident occurred at approximately 1:00 p.m. on Sunday as the local craft was transporting residents across the river.
According to eyewitnesses and community leaders, the tragedy was triggered by severe overloading despite explicit warnings from onlookers at the shore.
“We saw them boarding the canoe and warned them that it could not carry all of them.
“We advised them to reduce the number of passengers, but unfortunately they did not listen, and the canoe capsized almost immediately,” according to Aminu Kafinta, the community representative.
State officials confirmed that the recovered victims are being prepared for burial in accordance with Islamic rites, while local divers and emergency responders continue searching the river for missing passengers.
Expressing grief over what residents describe as an annual occurrence, community representatives appealed to the Jigawa State Government for a permanent infrastructure solution.
Residents urged the state government to construct a bridge over the river, emphasizing that replacing vulnerable watercraft with a permanent crossing is the only way to avert recurring fatal accidents during local transit.