At least four persons, including three teenagers and a 12-year old were confirmed dead and four others were successfully rescued in a boat mishap in a community settlement in Dutse, the Jigawa state capital.
The development was confirmed by the state Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) through its spokesperson, ASC Badarudeen Tijani yesterday said the incident occured on Wednesday about 4:00 pm at Dudduru Pond, approximately three kilometres from Kwadige Village in Dutse LG.
He maintained that the boat, which was conveying eight passengers from Kwadige Village to Chai Chai Sabuwa Market, reportedly capsized while crossing the pond, noting that, preliminary information indicated that the incident may have been caused by strong winds at the time of the occurrence.
‘”Sadly, four passengers, all females, lost their lives in the incident, while the remaining four passengers were successfully rescued. The deceased included Hasiya Mu’azu 23, Hauwa Lawan, 13 Fatima Lawan 12 and Dawsiyya Lawan, 13.
“The four survivors were rescued by farmers working around the pond at the time of the incident. The rescue and recovery efforts were further supported by residents of Kwadige and Kuna Villages, who worked together to assist those affected by the incident.
“The State Commandant Muhammad Ingawa, commiserated with the families of the deceased and the entire Kwadige community over the tragic loss of their loved ones.
He further urged members of the public, particularly communities that rely on boats for transportation, to exercise maximum caution when travelling on waterways, especially during periods of strong winds and adverse weather conditions.
The Corps also advised boat operators and passengers to strictly adhere to basic water-safety measures and avoid travelling under conditions that may endanger lives.
