No fewer than two persons have been confirmed dead while six were declared missing after a canoe capsized in Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

The Jigawa State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Lawan Shiisu, who confirmed the incident via a statement on Sunday, said the canoe conveying 13 passengers, on their way for a condolence visit, capsized after hitting an object.

“Today (Sunday), at about 12:40 p.m., information at our disposal revealed that a particular canoe with 13 occupants who were on transit from Dabi village toward Siyangu village, all in Ringim LGA reportedly capsized.

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“The occupants were on their way to pay a condolence visit,” Shiisu said.

He added that upon receipt of the report, a team of policemen launched a search and rescue mission at the scene with the assistance of local divers in the area.

The police spokesperson stated that the mission led to the recovery of seven persons on the spot who were all rushed to General Hospital, Ringim for medical attention.

Shiisu said two out of the seven recovered occupants, Bara’atu Garba, 30, and Mahmud Surajo, 3, were certified dead by a medical doctor on duty.

Ha stated that the remains of the deceased were later released to their families for burial, adding that the remaining five persons were receiving treatment at the hospital, while the other six victims were still missing.

The police spokesman, however, said efforts to recover the six drowned passengers were being intensified.

The Star