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12 dead, 20 rescued in Zamfara canoe mishap while fleeing bandits
12 dead, 20 rescued in Zamfara canoe mishap while fleeing bandits
By: Zagazola Makama
The Zamfara Police Command has confirmed the death of 12 persons in a canoe mishap in Gummi Local Government Area of the state.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred on Friday evening at Danmaga village in Gummi.
According to the sources, residents sighted a group of armed bandits moving with rustled animals toward Birnin Magaji district of the area, forcing some women and children to hurriedly board a canoe to cross a river in a bid to escape.
“In the process, the canoe capsized, leading to the death of 12 victims, while more than 20 persons were rescued alive,” the sources said.
The sources said security operatives, in collaboration with local divers, recovered the bodies which were deposited for burial according to Islamic rites.
The sources added that search efforts were still ongoing to recover possible remaining victims of the incident.
12 dead, 20 rescued in Zamfara canoe mishap while fleeing bandits