A tragic boat accident in Zangon Maje, a riverine community in Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State, has left several families in mourning after a vessel carrying 17 passengers, mostly young girls, capsized on Sunday.
According to a statement released Tuesday by Badruddeen Tijjani Mahmud, spokesperson for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Jigawa, the boat was en route from Digawa Village in Jahun LGA to Zangon Maje when it overturned mid-river under yet-to-be-determined circumstances.
Of the 17 passengers on board, 16 were girls aged between 10 and 13 years. Authorities believe they were returning from a communal visit or errand when the incident occurred.
So far, seven girls have been rescued alive, and four bodies have been recovered. Five passengers remain missing, and rescue efforts are ongoing.
The exact cause of the mishap remains unknown, with officials assuring the public that a full investigation is underway.
Reacting to the incident, Commandant Bala Bawa Bodinga of the NSCDC in Jigawa expressed his deep sorrow.
“The loss of such young lives is devastating,” he said. “Our thoughts are with the families of the deceased, and we remain committed to finding those still missing.”
Bodinga added that the NSCDC is working to enhance safety protocols on local waterways to prevent such incidents in the future.
He also commended the swift response of emergency teams and local volunteers, who immediately mobilized to rescue survivors and assist with recovery efforts.
Sunday’s tragedy has reignited calls for improved safety measures, including the enforcement of life jacket use and better regulation of local transport vessels in rural communities.
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