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, deepening the grief of families and residents as search and recovery efforts continued.
The village head of Malamawar Yandutse, Umar Habibu, confirmed that the bodies were recovered on Tuesday morning.
The canoe, which was carrying about 40 passengers, mostly women and children, capsised, leaving 23 people rescued, six confirmed dead and several others initially reported missing.
Habibu said four more bodies were later recovered, with two found on Monday evening and the remaining two on Tuesday morning.
The victims were identified as Nazifi Magaji, 25, from Yandutse Village, Khadija Malam Sagiru, 18, Sadiya Adamu, 14, and Safiya Daihu, 14, all from Malamawar Yandutse.
“Following the burial of six victims yesterday, the search team continued and recovered another four bodies,” Habibu said.
“Two were buried on Monday evening, while the other two were buried on Tuesday morning near the river because of the condition of the bodies.”
A resident said Khadija Malam Sagiru had been due to marry this Saturday, while Nazifi Magaji was scheduled to get married next month.
The Director of Planning at the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Muhammad Bala Sanusi, also confirmed the recovery of the four additional bodies.
The victims have since been buried in accordance with Islamic rites in the presence of their families, security personnel and government officials.
