Five dead, four rescued as boat capsizes in Jigawa 

… As three girls drown in pond after washing clothes

By Umar Akilu Majeri, Dutse

Last Friday, at about seven in the evening, one canoe was reported to have capsized at Martaba village, Gwaram LGA of Jigawa State while the passengers were returning home after attending Juma’ah prayer.

According to the police, there were nine passengers in the canoe. The mishap claimed five lives while the other four were rescued.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Lawan Shiisu Adam, confirmed the incident.

”On receipt of the report, a team of Policemen were rushed to the scene.

“Four (4) of the passengers; one Barkeji ‘m’ age 60yrs, and three (3) others all of Martaba village were rescued alive.

“With the aid of local divers, Five (5) Corpses were recovered. They are; Lukateru ‘m’ age 60yrs, Musa ‘m’ age 50yrs, Sale ‘m’ age 50yrs, Alh Shuaibu ‘m’ age 60yrs, and Dogo ‘m’ age 50yrs all of Darazau Herdsmen settlement camp in Bauchi State.

“Corpses were released to their relatives for burial.”

The State Commissioner of Police, CP Aliyu Sale Tafida psc, condoled with the family and relatives.

He also prayed for the departed souls to have eternal peace.

In a related development, the police spokesperson confirmed that thee girls namely; Maryam Salisu (10yrs), Bahayura Lawan (10yrs), and Lawisa Sule (8yrs) drowned at a pond in Faskarau, Jae Ward of Kaugama LGA.

The incident occurred on September 5, 2022 at about 1100hrs when the three girls went to a nearby pond about three hundred meters away from the village to wash their clothes.

The police and the staff of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Kaugama LGA confirmed that they received a distress call at around 1110hrs and rushed to the scene with the Divisional disaster management officers for a rescue mission. And together with the people of the community, they were able to recover the bodies of the three young girls after about 30 minutes of search in the water.

Immediately the bodies were recovered, they were rushed to the general hospital Kaugama, where they were certified dead by medical doctors.

Investigation later revealed that the girl, after washing their clothes, decided to take a bath at the pond which eventually led to their death.

It was also gathered that about twenty years ago, a similar incident occurred, with three girls losing their lives inside the pond.

The remains of the girls were handed over to their respective parents and they have been buried according to Islamic rites.

Meanwhile, the State Commandant, NSCDC, Musa Alhaji Mala commiserated with the families of the deceased and enjoined parents to look after their wards, especially at this moment where ponds and rivers are flooded.