At least eight people have been confirmed dead while 23 others were rescued after a passenger boat carrying about 40 people capsized in Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State, with rescue teams continuing efforts to locate nine passengers still missing.
The accident occurred at about 4:30 p.m. on Sunday at Malamawar-Yan Dutse, a river crossing frequently used by residents, especially farmers and labourers travelling between communities.
Police authorities said the victims included men, women and children, many of whom were returning from farming activities when the wooden boat overturned.
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Confirming the latest casualty figures on Monday, the spokesperson for the Jigawa State Police Command, SP Shi’isu Adam, said 23 passengers were rescued alive, while eight bodies had been recovered from the water.
“At the moment, we have successfully rescued 23 victims alive. Unfortunately, we have also recovered eight corpses from the river,” Adam said.
According to him, local divers, emergency responders, community volunteers and security personnel launched a coordinated rescue operation shortly after the incident.
He disclosed that all rescued victims received medical attention and have since been discharged to reunite with their families.
“Those rescued are now safe at their homes, as they have already been discharged to reunite with their families,” he added.
The police identified the survivors as Baba Dahiru, Sule Daini Adamu, Auwalu Mutari, Anty Haruna, Shamsiyya Dehuru, Saiyada Adnanu, Murjanatu Yusha’u, Buhari Ubale, Fahat Magaji, Amira Yusha’u, Nuriiya Yusuf, Afiya A. Amadu, Binta A. Sani, Shamsi Baba Mal, Yusuf Isiya, Firdausi Sahalu, Ajinjira Ashirin Ado, Sawaida Safiyani, Zainab Umar, Ismail Umaru, Hassana Zurkai, Walaiya Yasa’a and Zainab Ashiru.
SP Adam said search operations would resume on Tuesday as emergency teams continue combing the river and surrounding communities for the remaining nine missing passengers.
“We are not relenting. Our teams are combing the river and adjoining communities to ensure we find the remaining nine missing persons,” he said.
He appealed to residents to promptly report any information that could assist rescuers while urging boat operators to comply with basic safety regulations.
“Boat operators should avoid overloading and ensure passengers wear life jackets before embarking on any journey,” the police spokesman advised.
The tragedy is the latest in a series of fatal boat accidents recorded across northern Nigeria, where waterways remain a major means of transportation for many rural communities despite limited safety infrastructure.
Experts have repeatedly linked such incidents to overloading, poor maintenance of locally constructed boats, inadequate enforcement of inland water transport regulations, failure to provide life jackets and stronger river currents during the rainy season.
The National Inland Waterways Authority has intensified campaigns promoting mandatory use of life jackets and stricter compliance with safety standards, while the Federal Government has distributed thousands of life jackets to states to reduce recurring fatalities. Despite these measures, enforcement remains weak in several rural communities.
Authorities said rescue operations would continue until every missing passenger is accounted for, while the Jigawa State Police Command promised to provide further updates as the search progresses.
