40 Feared Dead as Boat Carrying Women, Children Capsizes in Jigawa

No fewer than 40 women and children are feared dead after a boat capsized in Ringim LGA of Jigawa state.

The Jigawa police command confirmed the incident in a Facebook post on Monday, saying one body had been recovered while search efforts were ongoing for the remaining passengers.

“One of the bodies was recovered. Efforts to recover the 39 are underway,” the command said.

Muhammad Sanusi, director of planning at the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), also told journalists in Dutse that the passengers, mostly female farmers and agricultural labourers, were travelling by canoe when the accident occurred.

Sanusi said the cause of the accident had yet to be determined, adding that emergency responders, local divers and residents were combing the area in search of survivors.

“Hands are on deck as combined efforts continue to determine the exact number of those rescued or missing,” he said.

Sanusi added that authorities were yet to establish the exact number of casualties as rescue operations continued.

Boat accidents are common in parts of northern Nigeria, where many rural communities rely on waterways for transportation.

The incidents are often linked to overloading, poor maintenance of boats and the absence of life jackets.