By Peter Omopo
Dutse, July 29, 2025 — Tragedy struck in Jigawa State on Sunday evening as a canoe carrying 17 passengers, mostly young girls, capsized in Zangon Maje village, Taura Local Government Area, leaving four dead and five still missing.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Jigawa State Command, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Tuesday by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Assistant Corps Superintendent (ACSC) Badruddeen Tijjani.
According to the statement, the boat mishap occurred around 5:00 p.m. while the canoe was ferrying passengers from Digawa village in Jahun LGA to Zangon Maje in Taura LGA. The passengers, predominantly girls aged between 10 and 13, were caught in the accident midway through the journey.
“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,” Tijjani stated. “Out of the 17 passengers, 16 were females. This highlights the devastating impact of this incident on young lives.”
Rescue operations, led by NSCDC officers, local divers, and community volunteers, are ongoing as efforts continue to locate the missing individuals.
The cause of the accident remains unknown, but the NSCDC says investigations are underway to determine what led to the capsizing of the canoe.
The State NSCDC Commander, Mr. Bala Bawa, expressed deep condolences to the families of the victims and the affected communities of Digawa and Zangon Maje. He also praised the swift response of rescue personnel and volunteers involved in the operation.
Bawa further assured the public that measures are being put in place to enhance safety on the state’s waterways and prevent future tragedies. He noted that more updates would be provided as rescue and investigative efforts continue.
