The police said efforts were ongoing to recover the remaining 15 passengers.
The police command in Jigawa has confirmed five persons dead and 15 others missing in a canoe crash that occurred on Thursday.
The police public relations officer in Jigawa, DSP Lawan Shiisu, confirmed the fatal crash in a statement on Thursday.
Mr Shiisu stated the canoe capsized at Nahuce in Taura LGA.
“Today, at about 1200hrs, information from a reliable source revealed that a canoe conveying 20 passengers to cross over Gamoda River at Nahuce village capsized. Upon the receipt of the report, a team of policemen, in collaboration with local divers and good Samaritans, raced to the scene for a rescue mission,” Mr Shiisu said.
He gave the identity of the deceased as Abdurra’uf Mohammed, 15, Suleman Ali, 20, Shafiu Mohammed, 25, Ado Nafance, 7, and Alasan Mohmmed, 16, all from of Taura LGA.
According to him, efforts have been intensified to recover the remaining 15 passengers.
Mr Shiisu said the commissioner of police in the state, Ahmadu Abdullahi, had prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased and for God to give the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
