Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Four teenage girls have drowned after a passenger boat carrying eight people capsized at Dudduru Pond in Dutse Local Government Area of Jigawa State. The incident occurred at about 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at the pond, located approximately three kilometres from Kwadige Village. The boat was conveying passengers from Kwadige Village to Chai Chai Sabuwa Market when it overturned while crossing the pond.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Jigawa State Command, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Thursday by its Public Relations Officer, ASC Badruddeen Tijjani Mahmud. "Preliminary information indicates that the incident may have been caused by strong winds at the time of the occurrence," Tijjani said. The four deceased victims were identified as Hasiya Mu'azu, 13; Hauwa Lawan, 13; Fatima Lawan, 12; and Dawsiyya Lawan, 13. All were female. The bodies of the four victims were subsequently buried according to Islamic rites.
Four other passengers survived the tragedy after farmers working around the pond at the time of the incident responded and rescued them. "The four survivors were rescued by farmers working around the pond at the time of the incident," the NSCDC spokesperson stated. Residents of Kwadige and Kuna Villages also joined the rescue and recovery efforts, assisting those affected by the incident. "Residents of Kwadige and Kuna Villages worked together to assist those affected by the incident," Tijjani added.
The NSCDC State Commandant, CC Muhammad Kabiru Ingawa, expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and the entire Kwadige community. "The Commandant commiserates with the families over the tragic loss of their loved ones," the PRO said. Ingawa urged residents who rely on boats for transportation to exercise maximum caution on waterways. He advised boat operators and passengers to strictly adhere to basic water safety measures and avoid travelling under dangerous conditions. The command also advised against travelling during strong winds and adverse weather to avoid endangering lives, noting that it had continued to sensitise communities on safety measures while navigating waterways.
The incident is the latest in a series of boat mishaps in Jigawa State, where many rural communities depend on waterways to access markets and neighbouring settlements. In July 2026, a canoe carrying about 40 passengers, mostly women and children, capsized in the state, leaving several dead and others missing. The recurrence of such tragedies has raised concerns about water safety standards and the vulnerability of rural commuters who rely on unregulated boats for transportation.
The four girls who lost their lives were travelling to a weekly market, a routine journey that thousands of Nigerians undertake every day. They did not return. Their families are left to mourn, and their community is left to ask why, once again, a simple crossing on a village pond ended in death.
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