Four Young Girls D!e, Five Missing In Boat Accident

Four young girls have lost their lives, and five others remain unaccounted for after a boat overturned in Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Jigawa State Command’s Public Relations Officer, ACSC Badruddeen Tijjani, verified the incident in a statement released to journalists in Dutse, the state capital, on Tuesday, July 29, 2025.

Tijjani noted that seven other individuals survived the mishap, which took place at Zangon Maje village around 5pm on Sunday.

He clarified that the accident occurred when a canoe carrying 17 passengers, primarily young girls aged between 10 and 13 years, traveling from Digawa village in Jahun LGA to Zangon Maje village in Taura LGA, capsized halfway through the trip.

“Preliminary reports confirmed that out of the 17 passengers onboard, seven were rescued alive, four dead bodies have been recovered, while five persons remain missing as of the time of this release,” the statement read.

“Out of the 17 passengers, 16 were females. This highlights the devastating impact of this incident on young lives.”

The PRO stated that rescue operations, spearheaded by the NSCDC alongside local divers and community volunteers, were still being intensified to locate the missing individuals.

According to him, the cause of the incident has not yet been determined, and an investigation is ongoing to uncover the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

Tijjani assured the public that the command was implementing all necessary measures to prevent future incidents and ensure safety across the state’s waterways.

He quoted the NSCDC Commander in the state, Mr Bala Bawa, as expressing deep sympathy to the affected families and the communities of Digawa and Zangon Maje.

The commander also praised the quick response of all personnel and volunteers involved in the rescue efforts, noting that further updates would be provided as investigation and recovery efforts continue.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli