Bride-To-Be, Groom-To-Be Among New Victims Recovered After Jigawa Boat Tragedy

(Rescue operations. Photo by Daily Post)

The bodies of a prospective bride and groom were among four additional victims recovered on Tuesday from the scene of the canoe accident at Malamawar Yandutse in Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State, bringing fresh grief to families and residents as recovery efforts continue.

The village head of Malamawar Yandutse, Umar Habibu, confirmed the recovery of the bodies on Tuesday morning.

It was earlier reported that a canoe carrying about 40 passengers, mostly women and children, capsized, with 23 people rescued, six d£ad, and several others reported missing.

Habibu explained that four more bodies were recovered, two on Monday evening and two on Tuesday morning. The victims were identified as Nazifi Magaji, 25, of Yandutse Village; Khadija Malam Sagiru, 18; Sadiya Adamu, 14; and Safiya Daihu, 14, all from Malamawar Yandutse.

According to him, following the burial of six persons the previous day, the search team continued its efforts and succeeded in recovering four more bodies, two of which were buried that same evening while the remaining two were buried close to the river on Tuesday morning owing to the state of decomposition.

A resident disclosed that one of the deceased, Khadija Malam Sagiru, had been scheduled to get married this coming Saturday, while another victim, Nazifi Magaji, was due to be married next month.

The Director of Planning at the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Muhammad Bala Sanusi, confirmed the recovery of the four additional bodies.

It was observed that the victims were buried in accordance with Islamic teachings in the presence of their families, security agencies and government officials.