No fewer than 18 persons have been confirmed dead in a boat mishap in Bauchi State on Thursday.
The spokesman of the Bauchi State Police Command, Ahmed Wakil, confirmed the development in a statement on Friday.
Wakil said the boat, which was carrying 23 farmers, capsized on River Buji in Itas Gadau Local Government Area of the State.
He said five others were rescued, while the driver and one passenger remained unconscious.
He said that the deceased included eight children, eight teenagers and two adults, adding that the Village Head of Majiya, Nuhu Kaila, reported the incident at the Itas Gadau Police Station.
Wakil said: “On 12th November, 2020 at about 11am, one Ali Adamu, Village Head of Majiya came to Itas-Gadau Police Station and reported that, on same date at about 10.30am, one Nuhu Kaila, Male of Zango Majiya village, carried about 23 persons in a Canoe, from Zango Majiya to the farm.
“On reaching the middle of river Buji, the canoe capsized and as a result, the following persons: Abdulraham Shehu, Male (20), Suwaiba Yusuf, female (12) old, Saude Abdulkarim, female (14), Fatima Maigari, female (10), Zuwaira Maigari, female (10), Hari Maigari, female (9), Hussaina Maigari, female (8), Ummani Abdulkarim, female (15), Halima Saminu, female (15), of Gidan Ganji village.
“Others are Najaatu Hamza, (15), Nura Abdullahi, Male (25), Yahuza Abdullahi, (12), Hafsa Abdullahi, female (11) of Majiya village, Sadiya Hashimu, (10), Khadija Alhassan, (15), of Gwarai village, Amina Idris, (15) Kaltime Hudu, female (14), Furaira Malam Magaji, female (14), of Zangon Majiya village were drowned in the river and died at the spot. The canoe driver and one Aisha Adamu, female (16), Umaru Adamu, Male (30) were rescued unconscious.”
Wakil said the Divisional Police Officer in the area led a team of policemen to the scene, adding: “The corpses were removed from the river and taken to the General Hospital Itas, for postmortem examination. A medical doctor certified 18 persons dead, while 5 persons were rescued.”
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