A tragic boat mishap has left approximately 30 people feared dead after an overloaded canoe capsized on Sunday evening in Jigawa State.
The accident occurred at the Malamawar Yandutse community river channel in the Ringim Local Government Area.
The passengers mostly men, women, and children returning from local farms were thrown into the water when the vessel overturned during the crossing.
Out of an estimated 40 passengers on board, local divers, emergency responders, and community volunteers have launched an urgent search-and-rescue operation to find survivors and recover the missing.
Confirming the incident, the Director of Planning at the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Muhammad Bala Sanusi, said rescue operations were ongoing and the exact number of casualties and survivors had yet to be confirmed.
“Search and rescue efforts are currently ongoing, and the exact number of casualties or survivors has not yet been confirmed,” he said.
Sanusi added that emergency personnel, working with community volunteers, were making every effort to locate those still missing.
“All hands are on deck as combined efforts continue to determine the exact number of those rescued or missing. Authorities will provide verified information as soon as rescue operations are concluded,” he added.
The Chairman of the Ringim Local Government Emergency Management Committee, Habibu Dauda, appealed to residents to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information while rescue operations continued.
He assured that the local government, in collaboration with the state government and relevant emergency agencies, was closely monitoring the situation and would provide updates as verified information becomes available.
Boat accidents remain a recurring challenge in many riverine communities across northern Nigeria, particularly during the rainy season when swollen rivers, strong currents and overcrowded boats increase the risk of fatal mishaps.
