Three teenage boys drown in Bauchi river

A tragic incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon in Durum village, Bauchi Local Government Area, as three teenage boys drowned in a river near a mining site.

The victims—16-year-olds Habibu Mohammed and Abubakar Mohammed, and 14-year-old Zalani Suleiman—were among a group of young boys who had gone scavenging for mineral deposits near Jinkiri village.

After the day’s activity, the three reportedly left the group to swim in a nearby river, where they tragically drowned.

According to Malam Yakubu Ahmad, the hamlet head of Jinkiri, the boys were later found unconscious in the water and were rushed to the Specialist Hospital in Bauchi, but were confirmed dead on arrival.

“They often came here to mine and swim in the river afterwards,” Ahmad said. “Sadly, this time ended in tragedy.”

Responding swiftly to a distress call, police officers from the Bauchi State Command retrieved the bodies and conducted preliminary investigations.

No signs of foul play were found, and authorities believe the deaths were the result of accidental drowning.

A police source said, “The boys had separated from the group to swim, and unfortunately, they didn’t make it.

There’s no indication of violence or external involvement.”

Swimming in rivers and dams is a common practice among youths in rural Bauchi, particularly during the hot season.

However, the lack of supervision and safety measures continues to pose serious risks in these communities.