No fewer than 30 people are feared dead after a canoe carrying about 40 passengers capsized in Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
The incident occurred on Sunday evening at Malamawar Yandutse village. Eyewitnesses said most of the passengers were women and children. Rescue operations are ongoing, with families asked to identify recovered bodies for burial.
Confirming the development, Muhammad Bala Sanusi, Director of Planning at the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), said the exact number of casualties and survivors has yet to be determined. He noted that the cause of the accident remains unclear, as officials continue working with local residents to locate survivors and account for all passengers.
Malam Habibu Dauda, Chairman of the Emergency Management Committee, also confirmed the tragedy, urging the public to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information until authorities release an official statement.
Rescue efforts are still underway at the time of this report.
