The remains of the victims of the canoe mishap in Jigawa State were laid to rest on Monday after the bodies recovered during ongoing search operations were buried according to Islamic rites.
DAILY POST had earlier reported that the Jigawa State Government confirmed the death of six people, while 23 others were rescued.
Search efforts are continuing to locate any remaining victims.
Governor Umar Namadi, accompanied by top government officials, attended the funeral prayers held at the Malamawar Yandutse Juma’at Mosque in Ringim Local Government Area.
The governor expressed his condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the peaceful repose of the deceased.
He also directed the immediate construction of a bridge across the river to prevent a recurrence of such tragedies.
Speaking after the funeral, the Village Head of Malamawar Yandutse, Umar Habibu, said the community had suffered similar incidents over the years but had never experienced a disaster of this magnitude.
“Every year we record one or two deaths but we have never witnessed a tragedy like this,” he said.
Habibu attributed the recurring accidents to the absence of a bridge across the river, noting that residents have no alternative but to rely on canoes for transportation.
He explained that constructing the bridge would connect about 15 surrounding villages to the main road, improve the movement of people and goods, and make it easier for farmers to transport their produce to markets.
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