At least three persons have been confirmed dead and six others still missing following a canoe accident in the Madobi Local Government Area of Kano State on Wednesday.
The Spokesman of Kano State Fire Saminu Abdullahi confirmed the incident on Wednesday night.
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He explained that five people, including a canoe paddler and a nursing mother, have been rescued while the remaining six passengers were still missing.
“The search continues for a missing child and six other passengers in the canoe.
“There were 14 persons in the canoe, two were the canoe paddlers while the remaining 12 were passengers,” Abdullahi said.
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He said, “One Aminu Garba, the Councillor representing Kauran Mata Ward in the LGA, contacted the State Fire service for immediate assistance following the incident”.
However, the Madobi Local Government Information Officer, Jamilu Yakasai, who also confirmed the incident, said that the bodies of four victims—Maryam Jibrin, Yusuf Galinja, Kabiru Muhammad, and Safiyanu Muss were recovered and buried according to Islamic rites on Wednesday.
He said the Interim chairman of the LG, Alhaji Muhammad Gora, had paid a condolence visited to Kauran Mata community and assured the community that the council would fully support the bereaved families.
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A local resident, Salisu Baure, attributed the tragic accident to overloading, saying the canoe was carrying two bags of rice and a motorcycle in addition to the passengers when the accident happened.
Meanwhile, the ward head of Kauran Mata, Alhaji Ibrahim Lawan, has urged the Kano State government to provide modern speed boats equipped with life jackets to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
