Prospective bride, groom among four bodies recovered in Jigawa canoe tragedy

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.

DAILY POST reported that a canoe carrying about 40 passengers, mostly women and children, capsized. Twenty-three people were rescued, six died and several others were reported missing.

He 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 yesterday, the search team continued and succeeded in the recovery of another four persons.

“Two were buried yesterday evening while the other two were buried Tuesday morning close to the river because of the nature of the decomposed body.”

A resident told DAILY POST that one of the deceased, Khadija Malam Sagiru, was scheduled to get married this coming Saturday, while another victim, Nazifi Magaji, whose body was also recovered, 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.

DAILY POST observed that the victims had been buried in accordance with Islamic teachings in the presence of their families, security agencies and government officials.