Emergency responders have launched a search-and-rescue operation after a canoe carrying dozens of passengers capsized in Malamawa community, ‘Yan Dutse District of Ringim Local Government Area, Jigawa State, leaving one person dead and several others missing.
The incident has thrown the community into distress, with families anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones. According to reports, the canoe was carrying about 40 passengers when it submerged.
Confirming the incident on Monday, the Jigawa State Police Command said one body had been recovered, while efforts were ongoing to locate the remaining missing passengers.
“The rescue operation is ongoing, and security personnel, alongside emergency responders and volunteers, are working tirelessly to search for those still missing,” the police spokesperson said.
Also confirming the tragedy, the Director of Planning at the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Muhammad Bala Sanusi, said the exact number of casualties and survivors had yet to be determined.
“Rescue operations are ongoing, and the exact number of casualties and survivors has yet to be confirmed. Officials are working alongside local residents to locate survivors and account for all passengers,” he said.
The Chairman of the Emergency Management Committee, Malam Habibu Dauda, appealed for calm, urging residents to avoid spreading unverified information.
“We ask the public to remain calm and refrain from spreading unverified information until the relevant authorities release an official statement,” he said.
The cause of the canoe accident has yet to be established. Meanwhile, rescue teams continue combing the area as residents await updates on the fate of the missing passengers.