The death toll from Sunday’s boat mishap in Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State has risen to six, while 34 other passengers remain missing as security agencies, emergency officials and local divers intensify search and rescue operations.
The victims were among about 40 farmers and labourers travelling across a river at Malamawar Yan Dutse community when the boat capsized at about 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Jigawa State Command, SP Shi’isu Adam, confirmed the latest development to journalists on Monday, saying joint rescue efforts were ongoing.
According to him, the number of recovered bodies has increased from the initial figure, while search teams remain at the scene to locate the missing passengers.
“The figure of recovered corpses has risen to six. A joint effort between the police, the State Emergency Management Agency and local divers is ongoing to recover the remaining victims,” Adam said.
He added that the search and rescue operation would continue until all passengers aboard the boat were accounted for.
Speaking at the riverside, one of the local divers, Malam Jibril Sani, said the search commenced immediately after the incident occurred on Sunday evening.
“We started the search immediately after the incident occurred, before the Maghrib prayer on Sunday, and stopped when night fell before resuming the search this morning,” Sani said.
Another diver, Yakubu Danfulani, said local divers were working alongside emergency responders to recover the remaining victims.
“We will continue to do our best to ensure the missing persons on board are recovered, dead or alive. The rescue operation will continue until everyone is accounted for,” he said.
Residents described the tragedy as one of the worst to hit the riverine community in recent years.
A resident, Musbahu Bashir, said the community spent the night in anxiety over the fate of the missing passengers.
“We spent the whole of yesterday night sleepless, thinking of how these missing persons will be found,” he said.
Another resident, Malam Wawu, urged the Jigawa State and Federal Government to provide life jackets, ferries, roads and bridges to reduce dependence on unsafe river crossings.
Authorities have appealed to residents to remain calm as rescue operations continue.
The incident began on Sunday when a locally made boat conveying more than 40 passengers, mostly female farmers and labourers travelling to their farms, capsized while crossing a river at Malamawar Yan Dutse community in Ringim Local Government Area.
Initial rescue efforts recovered one body, while 39 others were declared missing as the police, the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency and local divers launched a coordinated search operation. Officials said the exact cause of the accident was still under investigation.
West Trybe reports that the latest tragedy has heightened concerns over the safety of water transportation in riverine communities across Jigawa State, where residents depend on boats to access farms, markets and schools because of inadequate transport infrastructure.
It also adds to a series of fatal boat accidents recorded in northern Nigeria during the rainy season, often linked to overloading, the non-use of life jackets and strong water currents.
