JUST IN: Six children dead, seven rescued as boat carrying children capsized

Not fewer than six children met their untimely death in a boat mishap, as a canoe conveying 15 children capsized in Taura LGA of Jigawa state.

The Jigawa state police command confirmed the incident in a statement on Tuesday.

The incident occurred on Sunday, at about 8:15 pm, when the children were returning from a farm at Jejin Gunka to their village, Zangwan Maje.

Seven children were rescued while the whereabouts of the other two were still unascertained as of the time of the press.

The rescued children were identified as Rukayya Abdullahi, 9; Ibrahim Garba, 12; Fatima Yusuf, 10; Suwaiba Yahaya, 20; Rukayya Saleh, 18; Jawahira Samaila, 10; Sakina Sule, 11.

The deceased victims are Hare Abdullahi, 12; Halima Ma’azu, 12; Nasiba Yahya, 15; Saima Yusuf, 25; Amina Sule, 11; Saiya Abdullahi, 18.

The operator of the canoe reportedly fled the scene and remains at large.

Dahiru Muhammad, the state commissioner of police, expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and urged residents to prioritise safety when using water transport.

He warned against night-time travel and overloading of boats, and emphasised the importance of wearing life jackets.