Jigawa Boat Mishap Claims 4 Teenage Girls
By Ahmad Tijjani Abdul
KANO —- A routine journey to a local market ended in tragedy in Jigawa State on Wednesday after four teenage girls were killed when a passenger boat overturned in Dudduru Pond, near Dutse.
The victims, all aged between 12 and 13, were among eight people travelling from Kwadige Village towards Chai Chai Sabuwa Market when the boat capsized at about 4:00pm on Wednesday.
The incident occurred roughly three kilometres from Kwadige Village, with initial accounts indicating that turbulent weather and strong winds around the pond may have destabilised the boat during the crossing.
The Jigawa State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) confirmed the incident in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, ASC Badruddeen Tijjani Mahmud, on Thursday.
Those who lost their lives were named as Hasiya Mu’azu, 13; Hauwa Lawan, 13; Fatima Lawan, 12; and Dawsiyya Lawan, 13.
While the accident claimed four lives, the remaining passengers survived after local divers rushed to the scene and pulled them out.
The rescue effort was subsequently reinforced by residents of Kwadige and neighbouring Kuna communities, who participated in efforts to assist the survivors and recover the victims.
The corps said the remains of the deceased had since been committed to the earth in accordance with Islamic rites, as the community grappled with the loss.
Reacting to the incident, NSCDC State Commandant, CC Muhammad Kabiru Ingawa, conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families and the people of Kwadige, urging them to remain vigilant around waterways.
Ingawa particularly cautioned residents who use boats as a means of transportation to avoid taking to the water when strong winds or other dangerous weather conditions make navigation unsafe.
He also called on boat operators and passengers to observe basic safety precautions, stressing the need for greater caution to prevent avoidable loss of lives on the state’s waterways.