The Jigawa State Police Command has confirmed that the number of bodies recovered from the boat mishap at Malamawar Yan Dutse community in Ringim Local Government Area has risen to six, while 34 persons remain missing.
The Command said the incident occurred at about 4:30 p.m. on Sunday when a boat conveying 40 farmers and labourers capsized while crossing a river.
Confirming the latest development to PUNCH on Monday afternoon, the Police Public Relations Officer, Jigawa State Command, SP Shi’isu Adam, said rescue teams had intensified search operations.
Adam said the number of recovered bodies had increased to six, adding that a joint operation involving the police, the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency and local divers was ongoing to recover the remaining victims.
According to him, search and rescue operations will continue until all passengers aboard the boat are accounted for.
A local diver, Malam Jibril Sani, said search efforts had continued since the incident occurred.
He said, “We started the search immediately after the incident occurred, before the Maghrib prayer on Sunday, and stopped when night fell before resuming the search this morning.”
Another diver, Yakubu Danfulani, said local divers were working alongside emergency officials to locate the missing persons.
He stated that the team would continue to do its best to ensure the missing persons on board were recovered, dead or alive.
According to him, the rescue operation will continue until all the victims are accounted for.
A resident of the community, Musbahu Bashir, described the mood in the village as one of grief.
He said, “we spent the whole of yesterday night sleepless, thinking of how these missed persons will be found.”
Another resident, Malam Wawu, appealed to the Jigawa State and Federal Governments to provide life jackets, deploy ferries, and construct roads and bridges to serve communities in the area.
Meanwhile, authorities have urged residents to remain calm and await official updates as search and rescue operations continue.
Residents of communities across the river in Jigawa State said they are living in fear following Sunday’s boat mishap, with many now reluctant to use water transportation.
According to them, the incident has created panic and disrupted movement, warning that unless urgent measures are taken, many communities could remain cut off from their farms, markets and schools.
