Five persons have been confirmed dead and fifteen others declared missing in a canoe mishap that occurred at Gamoda River in Taura local government area of Jigawa State.
The accident happened at Nahuce Village on Thursday when the passengers of the canoe were trying to cross the river while returning from market.
Confirming the incident, spokesperson of the state’s Police Command, DSP Lawan Shisu said there were 20 passengers on the canoe when the accident happened.
“Yes, today Thursday, August 08, 2024 at about 1200hrs, information from a reliable source revealed that a canoe conveying twenty (20) passengers to cross over Gamoda River at Nahuce village in Taura LGA capsised.
“Upon receipt of the report, a team of Policemen in collaboration with local divers and good Samaritans raced to the scene for a rescue mission.
“Regretfully, five (5) of the passengers were dead,” DSP Shisu said.
He named the victims as “Abdurra’uf Mohd ‘m’ age 15yrs; Suleman Ali ‘m’ age 20yrs; Shafiu Mohd ‘m’ age 25yrs; Ado Nafance ‘m’ age 75yrs and Alasan Mohd ‘m’ age 16yrs all of Taura LGA”.
He however revealed that, efforts were being intensified to rescue the remaining fifteen passengers declared missing.
The police PRO conveyed the condolences of the state’s Commissioner of Police, CP A.T. Abdullahi to the immediate family and prayed for the departed souls to have eternal peace.
