A search and rescue operation is ongoing in Jigawa State after a canoe carrying women and primary school pupils capsized in Ringim Local Government Area.
The Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency says at least 40 people are feared dead in the incident.
Police have confirmed that one body has been recovered so far, while emergency responders, local divers and volunteers continue the search for other victims.
The agency’s Director of Planning, Muhammad Bala Sanusi, says rescue efforts are still in progress and more details will be made available as the operation continues.
The victims were reportedly returning home from school when the canoe overturned.
Authorities have not yet established the cause of the accident, and investigations are underway.
The tragedy once again highlights the risks faced by many riverine communities in northern Nigeria, where waterways remain a major means of transportation, particularly during the rainy season. Experts have continued to call for stricter enforcement of water transport safety regulations, including the use of life jackets and measures to prevent overcrowding of boats.
