Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A tragic boat accident has occurred in Jigawa State, leaving one person dead and 39 others missing after a locally made wooden boat carrying more than 40 passengers, mostly female farmers and agricultural labourers, capsized in the Malamawar Yan Dutse community waterway within the Ringim Local Government Area. The incident happened at about 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 19, 2026, as the passengers were travelling across a river to access their farmlands. The Jigawa State Police Command confirmed the tragic incident, stating that officers, local divers, and emergency responders were immediately deployed to the scene after receiving a distress report.
The Police Public Relations Officer for the Jigawa State Command, SP Shi’isu Adam, confirmed that one body had been recovered so far, while search and rescue operations were ongoing to locate the remaining 39 passengers who were still unaccounted for. According to the police spokesperson, the command is working with other emergency agencies to thoroughly search the area, and further details would be made public in due course. The Director of Planning at the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency also confirmed the incident, noting that the victims were mostly female farmers and labourers travelling to their farms when the boat capsized.
The exact cause of the accident has yet to be established, as investigations and assessments are still ongoing. The Chairman of the Ringim Local Government Emergency Management Committee, Habibu Dauda, said local divers and residents had joined emergency responders in the search operation. He urged residents to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information, assuring that an official update would be issued once rescue operations yield clearer information.
Boat accidents have remained a recurring tragedy in parts of northern Nigeria, particularly during the rainy season, often attributed to overloading, the non-use of life jackets, and strong water currents. The latest tragedy has thrown the Malamawar Yan Dutse riverine community into mourning as families anxiously await news about the fate of their loved ones. The Jigawa State Government and emergency agencies have assured the public that all hands are on deck to determine the exact number of those rescued or missing, while rescue operations continue at the scene.
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