Six Feared Dead, Several Missing After Overloaded Canoe Capsizes In Jigawa

A tragic boating accident has claimed at least six lives in Jigawa State after a canoe carrying about 40 passengers capsized in Malamawa village, sparking an ongoing search and rescue operation.

The incident occurred at about 4:00 p.m. on Sunday when the canoe, which was said to have been transporting around 40 passengers, overturned while crossing a local waterway. Initial reports suggest the vessel may have been overloaded, raising fresh concerns about safety standards on inland waterways.

Emergency responders from the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) were immediately deployed to the scene and have been working to rescue survivors and recover victims.

Confirming the incident, the Jigawa State Commissioner for Special Duties, Auwal Sankara, said six bodies had been recovered while 15 passengers were rescued alive.

He assured residents that the state government would continue the operation until every passenger involved in the accident had been accounted for.

Witnesses at the scene alleged that the canoe was carrying more passengers than it could hold, a factor believed to have contributed to the disaster. Authorities have not officially confirmed the cause of the accident, but investigations are expected to determine the circumstances surrounding the capsize.

With approximately 40 people believed to have been on board, officials have yet to establish the exact number of those still missing. Rescue teams remain on the water as the search continues.

The latest tragedy adds to a growing number of fatal boat accidents recorded across Nigeria, where overloaded vessels, inadequate safety measures, and the absence of life jackets continue to pose significant risks to commuters who rely on waterways for transportation.