A canoe accident in Borno State, Nigeria, has resulted in the deaths of four people, local police reported Tuesday.
ASP Nahum Daso, Public Relations Officer for the Borno State Police Command, Nigeria, said the incident occurred Monday at approximately 3:30 PM in the Bakassi community between Mafa and Dikwa along Maiduguri Road. The canoe, carrying passengers, capsized in floodwaters.
The victims, all female residents of Bulabulin Ward in Dikwa, were identified as Ya Mallum Shettima, an adult from Marte LGA; Maimuna Akura, age 10; Umira Alhaji Bulama, age 6; and Yagana Bulama Kawu, 5 months old.
The bodies were taken to Dikwa General Hospital, where a doctor confirmed the deaths. They have since been released to their families for burial according to Islamic rites.
Commissioner of Police CP ML Yusufu expressed condolences to the affected families and urged the public, especially those in flood-prone areas, to exercise caution. The police provided emergency contact numbers for the public to report any distress: 08068075581 and 0802343293.
