The Jigawa State Police Command has confirmed that six bodies have so far been recovered following a boat mishap in Malamawar Yan Dutse community, Ringim Local Government Area of the state, while 34 passengers remain missing.
Kano Times reports that the incident occurred at about 4:30 p.m. on Sunday when a boat carrying 40 farmers and labourers capsized while crossing a river.
Confirming the latest development on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Shi’isu Adam, said rescue teams had intensified search operations to locate the missing victims.
According to him, the number of recovered bodies has risen to six, while a joint rescue operation involving the police, the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and local divers is ongoing.
He said search and rescue operations would continue until all the passengers on board the boat were accounted for.
A local diver, Malam Jibril Sani, said rescue efforts began immediately after the incident on Sunday.
“We started the search immediately after the incident occurred, before the Maghrib prayer on Sunday, and stopped when night fell before resuming the search this morning,” he said.
Another diver, Yakubu Danfulani, said local divers were working with emergency officials to locate the missing passengers.
He assured that the team would continue its efforts until all the victims were recovered, whether dead or alive.
A resident of the community, Musbahu Bashir, described the atmosphere in the area as one of deep sorrow.
“We spent the whole of yesterday night sleepless, thinking of how these missing persons will be found,” he said.
Another resident, Malam Wawu, appealed to the Jigawa State and Federal Governments to provide life jackets, deploy ferries, and construct roads and bridges to improve transportation and prevent similar tragedies.
Authorities have urged residents to remain calm and await official updates as the rescue operation continues.
Meanwhile, residents of communities across the river said they now live in fear following the tragedy, with many expressing reluctance to travel by water.
They warned that unless urgent safety measures are introduced, several communities could remain cut off from their farms, markets and schools.
