By Ado Oyeyemi
Victims of the recent canoe accident in Jigawa State were buried on Monday as rescue teams continued efforts to locate other passengers believed to be missing after the tragedy.
The Jigawa State Government had earlier confirmed that six people lost their lives in the incident, while 23 others were rescued.
Search operations are still ongoing to determine if more victims remain unaccounted for, the government noted.
Governor Umar Namadi attended the funeral prayers held at the Malamawar Yandutse Juma’at Mosque in Ringim Local Government Area, alongside senior government officials, where the deceased were laid to rest in accordance with Islamic rites.
The governor sympathised with the bereaved families and prayed for the repose of the victims’ souls.
He also ordered the immediate construction of a bridge across the river, saying the project would help prevent similar accidents in the future.
Speaking after the burial, the Village Head of Malamawar Yandutse, Umar Habibu, described the incident as the worst water transport disaster the community had experienced.
He said although the community records occasional fatalities from canoe accidents, the latest tragedy was unprecedented.
Habibu blamed the recurring mishaps on the absence of a bridge linking the community, explaining that residents depend entirely on canoes to cross the river.
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According to him, building the proposed bridge would connect about 15 neighbouring communities to the main road, ease the movement of people and goods, and improve access to markets for local farmers.
