Kebbi: Teenage Female Farmers Crossing A River To Harvest Rice Die As Canoe Capsizes

Six teenage girls were confirmed dead in Suru Local Government Area of Kebbi state as canoe ferrying them across Tindifai River capsized.

Confirming the incident to journalists in Birnin-Kebbi, Chairman Suru Local Government, Umaru Maigari, said that the incident occurred when the canoe was ferrying the victims across Tindifai River on Monday.

According to him, the canoe left Tindifai village conveying nine girls to a Fadama area where they were going to harvest rice but it capsized along the way.

Maigari added three of the victims were rescued alive while the other six girls could not make it, adding that the deceased had been buried according to Islamic rites, and the local government have condoled the families as well as sympathised with those that survived the mishap.

“The village is close to Bendu in Tundifai; they were going to harvest rice in the Fadama area when the incident occurred and resulted to the death of six females. The deceased were between the ages of 12 years and 15 years.

“The three other victims had been rescued alive by the driver of the canoe, Umar Faruk, a 13-year-old,” he said.

The chairman, who attributed the incident to overloading, said the capacity of the canoe was only meant to carry five passengers at a stretch. He added that the council would sensitize the communities to the dangers of overloading on canoes, particularly those in the riverine communities of the state.