No fewer than 18 people were killed when a canoe carrying 23 farmers capsized in Bauchi State .

Although five people were rescued alive , the driver and one passenger were unconscious .
The Police Public Relations Officer, Bauchi State Command, Ahmed Wakil , made this known in a statement made available to journalists on Friday in Bauchi.
According to him, the deceased included eight children, eight teenagers , and two adults .
He said the incident occurred on River Buji in Itas Gadau Local Government Area of Bauchi State .

He said, “ On Thursday, 12 th November , 2020, at 11 am , one Ali Adamu , Village Head of Majiya came to Itas -Gadau Police Station and reported that on the same date at about 10 . 30 am , one Nuhu Kaila, Male of Zango Majiya village , carried about 23 persons in a Canoe, from Zango Majiya to the farm .

“ On reaching the middle of river Buji, the canoe capsized and as a result, the following persons: Abdulraham Shehu , Male ( 20 ), Suwaiba Yusuf , female (12 ) old, Saude Abdulkarim , female ( 14 ), Fatima Maigari, female ( 10 ), Zuwaira Maigari, female ( 10) , Hari Maigari, female ( 9 ) , Hussaina Maigari, female (8 ) , Ummani Abdulkarim , female (15 ) , Halima Saminu , female ( 15 ) , of Gidan Ganji village.

“ Others are Najaatu Hamza , ( 15 ), Nura Abdullahi , Male ( 25 ), Yahuza Abdullahi , ( 12 ) , Hafsa Abdullahi , female ( 11 ) of Majiya village, Sadiya Hashimu, ( 10 ), Khadija Alhassan, ( 15 ), of Gwarai village, Amina Idris , ( 15 ) Kaltime Hudu, female ( 14 ), Furaira Malam Magaji, female ( 14 ), of Zangon Majiya village were drowned in the river and died at the spot.”
Wakil , a Deputy Superintendent of Police added , “ The canoe driver and one Aisha Adamu, female (16 ) , Umaru Adamu , Male ( 30 ) were rescued unconscious. ”
He said upon receipt of the report , the DPO and a team of policemen rushed to the scene.
“ The corpses were removed from the river and taken to the General Hospital Itas , for postmortem examination .

“ A medical doctor certified 18 persons dead , while 5 persons were rescued,” he stated 

Source :- Punch ng