No fewer than four people have been killed in a canoe mishap in Taura Local Government area of Jigawa State.
The incident occurred when the canoe carrying seventeen passengers mostly young girls from Digawa Village in Jahun Local Government Area to Zangon Maje Town in Taura LGA capsized mid-river.
He said four people died, seven were rescued and five still missing.
Spokesman of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence, NSCDC, Jigawa State Command, Badruddeen Tijjani Mahmud confirmed the incident in a statement issued to newsmen.
According to the statement “Jigawa State Command, regrets to report a tragic boat mishap that occurred on Sunday, 27th July 2025, at approximately 1700hrs in Zangon Maje, Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State”
He explained that, the incident happened when the boat was conveying 17 passengers, mostly young girls aged between 10 and 13 years, from Digawa Village in Jahun Local Government Area to Zangon Maje Town in Taura LGA when it capsized mid-way through the journey.
He said, preliminary reports confirmed that out of the 17 passengers on board, seven (7) were rescued alive, four, 4, bodies have been recovered, while five (5) persons remain missing as of the time of this release.
He said rescue efforts, led by the NSCDC in collaboration with local divers and community volunteers is still ongoing in a bid to locate the missing individuals.
The cause of the boat mishap is yet to be ascertained. However, investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
State Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Jigawa State Command, Commandant Bala Bawa Bodinga, however, expressed deep sympathy to the affected families and the communities of Digawa and Zangon Maje.
He also commended the swift response of all personnel and volunteers involved in the rescue operation.
