At least 40 women and children are feared dead following a tragic boat accident in Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State after a canoe carrying passengers capsized.
The Jigawa State Police Command confirmed the incident on Monday, saying search and rescue efforts were ongoing to locate those still missing.
In a statement posted on its official Facebook page, the command said one body had been recovered, while emergency responders continued the search for the remaining victims.
“One of the bodies was recovered. Efforts to recover the remaining 39 are underway,” the police said.
The Director of Planning at the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Muhammad Sanusi, also confirmed the incident, explaining that the passengers were largely women engaged in farming and other agricultural activities.
According to Sanusi, the cause of the accident has yet to be determined. He said emergency officials, local divers, and community volunteers were working together to search for survivors and recover victims.
He added that authorities were still verifying the exact number of people on board and the total number of casualties.
“All relevant agencies are working together to establish the exact number of those rescued, missing, and affected by the incident,” Sanusi said.
The latest tragedy has renewed concerns over the frequent occurrence of boat accidents in northern Nigeria, where many rural communities rely heavily on waterways for transportation.
Experts have repeatedly attributed such accidents to overloading, poorly maintained boats, and the failure of passengers to use life jackets and other safety equipment.
Authorities are expected to provide additional information as rescue and recovery operations continue.
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