Four persons were confirmed dead, and six others were declared missing after a local boat capsized in the Madobi area of Kano State.

Meanwhile, a nursing mother and three others among the passengers were rescued by local divers a few minutes after the tragic mishap.

The Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Fire Service, Saminu Abdullahi, confirmed the incident occurred Wednesday night.

He explained that the rescue team is intensifying efforts to locate the missing persons, including a child who was among the passengers.

According to the fire service, there were 14 persons in the canoe, including two paddlers. Four were confirmed dead, four were rescued, and six remain missing.

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He added, “One Aminu Garba, the Councillor representing Kauran Mata Ward in the LGA, contacted the State Fire Service for immediate assistance following the incident.”

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

He said the Interim Chairman of the LG, Alhaji Muhammad Gora, had paid a condolence visit to the Kauran Mata community and assured the community that the council would fully support the bereaved families.

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

Meanwhile, the Ward Head of Kauran Mata, Ibrahim Lawan, has urged the Kano State government to provide modern speed boats equipped with life jackets to prevent similar tragedies in the future.