In a devastating incident, 15 girls tragically lost their lives when a boat capsized in Dandeji village, located in the Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
According to reports, a group of 40 girls was aboard the boat on Tuesday, en route to gather firewood in a nearby bush when the accident occurred. Sadly, 15 of them lost their lives instantly.
Muhammad Ibrahim, a resident of the area, revealed that 15 bodies have already been recovered, while local divers continue their search for the remaining victims.
The chairman of Shagari Local Government, Aliyu Abubakar, verified the occurrence of the accident and confirmed that the deceased have been laid to rest in accordance with Muslim customs.
Efforts to obtain a statement from the Sokoto police Public Relations Officer, DSP Umar Mohammed, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls seeking confirmation.