About four women have drowned in a boat accident that occurred on the River Benue in Taraba State.

The incident happened on Wednesday in the Mayo Ranewo area of Ardo-Kola Local Council.

Recall that about 50 persons also drowned in October 2023 when a boat travelling to a neighbouring village in Karim-Lamido capsised.

However, the state’s police command could not ascertain the number of casualties or the cause of the accident.

The acting spokesperson, Gambo Kwache, promised to reach out to The Guardian as soon as information is made available by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the council.

Also, four persons died while six others were missing after a boat capsized in the Madobi area of Kano State.

A nursing mother and three others were rescued by local divers a few minutes after the tragic mishap.

The spokesperson for the Kano State Fire Service, Saminu Abdullahi, confirmed the incident on Wednesday night.

He explained that a rescue team is intensifying efforts to rind the missing persons, including a child.

According to the fire service, 14 persons were in the canoe, including two rowers.

He said one Aminu Garba, the councillor representing Kauran Mata Ward in the local council, contacted the fire service for assistance following the incident.

The Information Officer, Madobi Local Council, Jamilu Yakasai, who also confirmed the incident, said the bodies of the four victims, Maryam Jibrin, Yusuf Galinja, Kabiru Muhammad, and Safiyanu Muss, were recovered and buried according to Islamic rites on Wednesday.

He said the interim chairman of the council, Alhaji Muhammad Gora, paid a condolence visit to the Kauran Mata community and assured the community that the council would support the bereaved families.

A resident, Salisu Baure, attributed the tragedy to overloading. According to him, when the accident happened, the canoe was carrying two bags of rice and a motorcycle in addition to the passengers.

Meanwhile, the ward head of Kauran Mata, Ibrahim Lawan, urged the Kano State government to provide modern speed boats equipped with life jackets to prevent similar tragedies.