Four teenage girls have drowned after a passenger boat carrying eight people overturned at Dudduru Pond in Dutse Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
The incident happened around 4pm on Wednesday while the passengers were travelling from Kwadige Village to Chai Chai Sabuwa Market, according to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The pond is about three kilometres from Kwadige Village.
NSCDC spokesperson in Jigawa, ASC Badruddeen Tijjani Mahmud, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Thursday.
He said preliminary information indicated that strong winds may have caused the boat to capsize while crossing the pond.
The four victims were identified as Hasiya Mu’azu, 13; Hauwa Lawan, 13; Fatima Lawan, 12; and Dawsiyya Lawan, 13.
Four other passengers survived the accident after farmers working around the pond responded to the incident and rescued them.
Residents of Kwadige and nearby Kuna community also joined the rescue and recovery operation.
The bodies of the deceased were later buried in accordance with Islamic rites.
The Jigawa NSCDC Commandant, CC Muhammad Kabiru Ingawa, expressed condolences to the victims’ families and the Kwadige community.
Ingawa urged residents who rely on waterways for transportation to exercise caution, especially when weather conditions deteriorate.
He also advised boat operators and passengers to observe basic safety precautions and avoid travelling during strong winds or other conditions that could endanger lives.
The incident is the latest boat mishap reported in Jigawa, where communities in parts of the state rely on waterways to access markets and neighbouring settlements.