ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi
A canoe carrying 23 farmers to the farm on Thursday capsized on River Buji in Itas Gadau local government area of Bauchi State, killing 18 people.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Bauchi State Command, Ahmed Wakil, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Friday.
He said that five people were rescued alive but the driver an one other passenger were unconscious.
Wakil said that the deceased included eight children and eight teenagers and two adults.
According to him, the Village Head of Majiya, Nuhu Kaila, reported the unfortunate incident to the Itas Gadau Police Station.
“On 12th November, 2020 at about 11am, one Ali Adamu, Village Head of Majiya came to Itas-Gadau Police Station and reported that, on same date at about 10.30am, one Nuhu Kaila, Male of Zango Majiya village, carried about 23 persons in a Canoe, from Zango Majiya to the farm.
“On reaching the middle of river Buji, the canoe capsized and as a result, the following persons: Abdulraham Shehu, Male (20), Suwaiba Yusuf, female (12) old, Saude Abdulkarim, female (14), Fatima Maigari, female (10), Zuwaira Maigari, female (10), Hari Maigari, female (9), Hussaina Maigari, female (8), Ummani Abdulkarim, female (15), Halima Saminu, female (15), of Gidan Ganji village.
“Others are Najaatu Hamza, (15), Nura Abdullahi, Male (25), Yahuza Abdullahi, (12), Hafsa Abdullahi, female (11) of Majiya village, Sadiya Hashimu, (10), Khadija Alhassan, (15), of Gwarai village, Amina Idris, (15) Kaltime Hudu, female (14), Furaira Malam Magaji, female (14), of Zangon Majiya village were drowned in the river and died at the spot.
“The canoe driver and one Aisha Adamu, female (16), Umaru Adamu, Male (30) were rescue unconscious.”
He further said that when they received the report, the Divisional Police Officer and a team of policemen rushed to the scene.
The Police Spokesman said: “The corpses were removed from the river and taken to the General Hospital Itas, for postmortem examination.
“A medical doctor certified 18 persons dead, while 5 persons were rescued.”
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