Three siblings have drowned after the canoe they were travelling in capsized at Tiga Dam in Tudun Wada Local Government Area of Kano State, leaving their family and the Yalwan Rugu-Rugu community in grief.
The victims were identified as Murjanatu, Atikatu and Bilkisu, popularly known as Amira, all members of the Yalwan Rugu-Rugu community.
The tragedy occurred at about 2pm on Saturday when the canoe carrying the three girls reportedly overturned while sailing on the dam.
The incident plunged the community into mourning, with the Chairperson of Tudun Wada Local Government Area, Sa’adatu Salisu Soja, describing the deaths as a painful and devastating loss.
In a condolence message on Sunday, Soja commiserated with the families of the deceased and the people of Yalwan Rugu-Rugu, praying for strength for those affected by the tragedy.
She said, “We share the pain of the bereaved family and pray that Almighty Allah forgives the deceased, grants them Aljannatul Firdaus, and gives their loved ones the strength to bear this painful loss.”
The chairperson also prayed for divine protection against a recurrence of the tragedy.
However, the Kano State Fire Service said it had not officially received a report of the incident as of Sunday.
The spokesperson for the agency, Saminu Abdullahi, told our correspondent on Monday that the Fire Service only became aware of the incident through media reports and the condolence message issued by the local government chairperson.
“We have not received the report officially. We only saw it in the news and in the condolence message released by the Chairperson of Tudun Wada,” Abdullahi said.
The latest tragedy has again highlighted the dangers confronting communities that depend on canoes for transportation around Tiga Dam, with previous boat accidents in Kano claiming several lives and underscoring the need for stronger water-safety measures and quicker emergency response.
