The death toll from the tragic canoe accident in Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State has risen to 10 following the recovery of four more bodies, including those of a bride-to-be and a groom-to-be.
PLATFORM TIMES reports that the latest victims were recovered on Tuesday from the scene of the accident at Malamawar Yandutse community, where a canoe conveying about 40 passengers, mostly women and children, capsized.
The village head of Malamawar Yandutse, Umar Habibu, confirmed the recovery, saying two bodies were found on Monday evening while another two were recovered on Tuesday morning after an intensive search operation.
The deceased were identified as 25-year-old Nazifi Magaji of Yandutse Village, Khadija Malam Sagiru, 18, Sadiya Adamu, 14, and Safiya Daihu, 14, all from Malamawar Yandutse.
The latest recoveries bring the number of fatalities to 10 after six bodies were initially recovered on Monday, while 23 passengers were rescued alive. Several others are still believed to be missing.
Habibu said rescue teams continued searching the river after the initial burials and eventually recovered the additional victims.
“Two of the bodies were recovered on Monday evening and buried immediately, while the remaining two were recovered on Tuesday morning and buried near the river due to the state of decomposition,” he said.
The tragedy has been compounded by the discovery that two of the victims were preparing for marriage.
A resident of the community disclosed that Khadija Malam Sagiru was scheduled to get married this Saturday, while Nazifi Magaji was expected to marry next month.
The Director of Planning at the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency, Muhammad Bala Sanusi, also confirmed the recovery of the four additional bodies.
The victims were laid to rest in accordance with Islamic rites in the presence of grieving relatives, community members, security personnel and government officials.
Search and rescue operations were continuing as of Tuesday amid fears that more passengers may still be trapped beneath the water.
The incident is the latest in a series of fatal boat mishaps recorded across Nigeria, with safety experts repeatedly calling for stricter enforcement of water transport regulations, including the compulsory use of life jackets and the prevention of passenger overloading.
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