Baby, four women killed as boat capsizes in Jigawa

A seven-month-old baby and four women have died in a boat mishap in Guri LGA of Jigawa state.

The Jigawa police command confirmed the incident on Wednesday.

Lawan Shiisu, the police public relations officer (PPRO) in the state, said the boat capsized while they were almost at their destination.

“On Tuesday, at about 6 p.m., information at our disposal revealed that on the same date at about 4:30 p.m., four women and a child boarded a canoe from Nguru Yobe state to Adiyani village in Guri LGA of Jigawa state,” he said.

“Unfortunately, the canoe capsized close to their destination. The driver managed to escape alive, while the passenger drowned.”

He said local divers in the area immediately swung into action to rescue the passengers where they recovered the corpses.

The PPRO said the corpses were taken to Adiyani health facility and were certified dead by a medical doctor.

Shiisu gave the names of the deceased as  Oneyaniwura Kasagama; Lafiya Bulama; Badejaka Kasagama; Gimto Kasagama;  and Mai Madu Bulama, the seven-month old baby.

The PPRO said the victims were all residents of Adiyani village, adding that investigation into the case has commenced.