Twenty-three persons have been rescued, while eight bodies have been recovered from Sunday’s boat accident that claimed 40 passengers in Jigawa State.
The incident occurred at Malamawar-Yan Dutse in Ringim Local Government Area, where a wooden boat conveying about 40 passengers, mostly female farmers and labourers, capsized while crossing a waterway.
Boat accidents have remained a recurring tragedy in riverine communities across northern Nigeria, particularly during the rainy season, often attributed to overloading, failure to use life jackets and strong water currents.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Jigawa State Police Command, SP Shi’isu Adam, confirmed the latest casualty figure to The PUNCH on Monday. He said search and rescue operations continued for the remaining nine passengers, noting that 23 victims had been rescued alive while eight corpses had so far been recovered from the river.
He explained that local divers, emergency responders and security personnel had been at the scene since the incident occurred to rescue survivors and recover bodies. According to him, all the rescued victims received medical attention and were subsequently discharged, with those rescued now safe at home and reunited with their families.
Adam added that the search for the remaining nine passengers would continue on Tuesday, saying teams were not relenting and were combing the river and adjoining communities to locate them. He appealed to residents of riverine communities to assist security agencies with useful information that could aid the rescue operation.
The police spokesman also urged boat operators to avoid overloading and ensure that all passengers wear life jackets before embarking on any journey.
