4 Girls Die In Jigawa Canoe Mishap

Kwadige village in Dutse local government area of Jigawa State has been thrown into mourning following a canoe mishap that led to the death of four young girls.

This came less than two months after a similar accident that happened at Malamawar Yan Dutse in Ringim local government area of the state, when a canoe capsized with over 40 passengers on board, out of which 10 people were confirmed dead.

Waterway accidents continue to occur in Jigawa State despite repeated calls for the adoption of safety measures introduced by the Jigawa State Government and community leaders.

According to Malam Ibrahim Musa of Kwadige village, the canoe accident was the first of its kind in the area and, as such, it shocked the entire community.

Ibrahim narrated that he was working at farm in the evening of the fateful day when he heard shouts for help from the riverbank.

According to him, when they arrived at the scene, they found that the canoe had sunk with all eight passengers and the canoe driver.

The canoe driver and four other people were rescued alive with the support of other people nearby, while four girls unfortunately died.

After hours of searching, the bodies of the deceased were recovered from the water, a situation he described as very devastating.

Musa also attributed the accident to the condition of the canoe, which appeared too old to continue being used for water transportation.

Malam Gambo Sani, a 60-year-old resident of Kwadige village, said they had been using canoes to travel from their village to other places, but nobody had ever told them about the need to use life jackets.

“In this village, we only see life jackets on television; no one has ever used it. So we use only our traditional safety methods when crossing the river,” he said.

Gambon maintained that the Kwadige community was ever ready to collaborate with the government and any partners in improving waterway transportation safety in all forms.

He also appealed to the government to provide them with modern canoes to replace all the old ones that appear risky for the community to continue using.

According to the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Jigawa State Command, CC Muhammad Kabiru Ingawa, the accident happened on the late evening of Wednesday, 23rd September 2026, when a canoe carrying eight passengers was on its way to Sabuwar Chai Chai market in a neighbouring village.

The NSCDC confirmed that out of the eight passengers, four people were rescued while four girls were confirmed dead.

Those confirmed dead included Hasiya Mu’azu, 13; Hauwa Lawan, 13; Fatima Lawan, 12; and Dawsiyya Lawan, 13.

The Kwadige canoe accident has plunged the community and the state into fresh mourning and heightened fear among those who rely on waterways for transport.

For communities along riverine areas, water transportation remains the only viable link to the outside world for trade and social interaction. However, what should be a lifeline has turned into a nightmare owing to the absence of modern vessels and basic safety precautions.

Every year, dozens of people, mostly women and children, lose their lives in such preventable disasters across the state.

In response to the incessant boat accidents, the Jigawa State Government had previously introduced measures including a ban on night travel, overloading, and the use of faulty canoes. However, enforcement remains weak, and violations continue unchecked due to a lack of proper monitoring mechanisms.