A five-month-old infant, two children and one adult on Monday lost their lives in a boat accident that occurred along Maiduguri Road, Borno State.
A statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Nahum Daso, on Tuesday, said that the incident happened around 4 pm.
According to Daso, the boat, carrying several passengers, was submerged by floodwaters, resulting in the death of the four victims.
He identified the deceased as Mallum Shettima, Maimuna Akura, Umira Bulama, and Yagana Kawu.
The PPRO explained that a report was received from a Good Samaritan at the Dikwa Divisional Police Headquarters regarding a distressing canoe accident that occurred on Monday, September 23, 2024, at about 1530hrs in the Bakassi community between Mafa and Dikwa, along Maiduguri Road, Borno State.
He further explained that the incident involved a canoe carrying passengers that was submerged in floodwaters, leading to the unfortunate loss of four female lives.
According to him, “The deceased victims, all from Bulabulin Ward, Dikwa, have been identified as Ya Mallum Shettima, an adult female from Marte LGA, Maimuna Akura, 10 years old, Umira Alhaji Bulama, six years old, and Yagana Bulama Kawu, five months old.”
The PPRO stated that upon receiving the report of the incident, police officers visited the scene, rescued the victims and transported them to a nearby hospital, where they were confirmed dead by a medical doctor.
He said the victims were promptly evacuated to the Dikwa General Hospital, where their deaths were confirmed by a medical doctor, saying that subsequently, the corpses were released to their respective families for burial under Islamic rites.
The PPRO, therefore, warned boat operators in the state of the need to abide by safety procedures, ensuring that passengers are provided with safety buoys and life jackets.
Daso advised that safety was crucial, as the state is still recovering from recent flooding that claimed several lives, stressing that following a recent tragic canoe accident in Dikwa that resulted in the loss of four lives, the command underscored the critical importance of implementing safety protocols to avert such calamities.
He stated that it has become mandatory for all canoe operators to ensure the availability of safety buoys and life jackets for all passengers, pointing out that the command’s utmost priority is the safety and security of all the residents of Borno State, especially during this challenging period.
The statement noted that the recent incidents of flooding have already led to the loss of lives, saying that it is imperative to avoid further casualties due to negligence.