The Jigawa Police Command Public Relations Officer, Lawan Shiisu Adam, who also confirmed the boat mishap, said the search and rescue team was launched with the assistance of local divers, adding that seven people were recovered in the process, while the remaining six are still missing as at the time of filing this report.

“Two out of the seven recovered victims were confirmed dead by a medical doctor, while the rest five, who are in critical condition, are still receiving medical attention,” he said.

He said preliminary investigations revealed that the canoe hit an object and gradually sunk while the occupants drowned.

Meanwhile, the police spokesman disclosed that efforts are still in progress toward searching for the bodies of the remaining six victims.