At least two persons have died in a canoe mishap in Auyo local government of Jigawa State.
A canoe loaded with twenty passengers capsized in River Kwalgwai, a community in Auyo.
The canoe, which was ferrying traders enroute from Hadin village, capsized due to a powerful water wave and overloaded with 20 passengers.
It reportedly sank into the moving river with all the passengers onboard.
Police spokesman in Jigawa, Lawan Shi’isu said a rescue team comprising fishermen and canoe drivers saved 18 passengers alive while two later died in the hospital.
Adam said the canoe capsized due to overloading as the driver lost control when faced by a heavy water wave.
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Lawan said the incident happened around late hours of Sunday evening while the passengers were returning home from a local market.
“On 07/07/2024 at about 2200hrs, the command received an incident report by the Divisional Police Officer of Auyo Division, that a group of marketers from Kwalgwai village in Auyo LGA numbered about twenty (20) both males and females boarded a canoe. The canoe was said to have capsized while travelling across the Kwalgai River toward Hadin village within the same LGA”, said Adam.
“Subsequently, on 8/07/2024 at about 0600hrs, among the two females missing, one Habiba Ado ‘f’ age 18yrs of Kwalgai was also recovered, she was quickly conveyed to the Auyo hospital. But she was confirmed dead by a medical doctor on call” he added.
Adam further confirmed that the other woman declared missing is dead and her body recovered.
“Nevertheless, a preliminary investigation indicated that the accident was primarily caused by powerful waves and overloading to the point where the driver was unable to steer the canoe”, added Adam.
