(The Survivors. Photo by Daily Post)
Survivors of the catastrophic canoe accident at Malamawar Yandutse in Jigawa State’s Ringim Local Government Area have described their terrifying experiences and how nearby farmers and fishermen put their lives in danger to save them from the river.
While returning from rice farms, a canoe carrying approximately forty people mostly women and children capsized.
According to survivors, the canoe abruptly became unstable and crashed in the middle of the river, plunging everyone into the water. Unable to swim, many people screamed for assistance as they battled to keep afloat.
Seventeen-year-old survivor Anti Haruna, who was rescued unconscious, disclosed that fishermen and farmers responded swiftly after hearing cries for help from those involved in the accident.
She recounted that the victims initially thought they would all d!e, but villagers arrived quickly with their canoes and began pulling people out of the water one after another, with some even jumping into the river to rescue children and the elderly, an act of courage she said prevented further loss of lives.
One of the oldest survivors, Fatsima, who remains bedridden, narrated the terrifying experience she endured during the accident.
She explained that they were returning home from rice farms when the canoe suddenly capsized, throwing everyone into a struggle to survive.
She recalled that her hijab got trapped in part of the canoe and pulled her underwater, and despite her efforts to free herself, she swallowed a large amount of water, struggled to breathe, and eventually lost consciousness, only waking up later in the hospital.
She said surviving the accident has not brought an end to her suffering, noting that the trauma from the experience would remain with her for life.
She disclosed that she was in severe pain when she regained consciousness and has been unable to stop thinking about those who did not survive, adding that the memories of that day continue to haunt her and that emotional recovery has been extremely difficult.
Another survivor, Sawaida of Malamawar Yandutse, also recalled losing consciousness during the incident, describing how she felt herself being dragged beneath the water and briefly believed she was going to d!e before everything went dark.
She said she only regained consciousness at Ringim General Hospital, adding that although she survived, she continues to live in fear, haunted by the memories of people’s cries for help during the incident.
The survivors attributed the accident to the poor condition of the canoe and allegations that it was overloaded.
They appealed to the Jigawa State and Federal Governments to construct a bridge across the river, arguing that it would provide a safer means of transportation and help prevent the recurring loss of lives during the rainy season.
An earlier report by an online news platform indicated that 23 passengers were rescued alive, while 10 bodies had been recovered following the incident.
Search and rescue operations remain ongoing as emergency responders and community volunteers continue efforts to locate those still missing.
