Tragedy struck in Jigawa on Saturday when four teenage girls drowned in a pond at Malkaderi village, Gagarawa Local Government Area.
The girls, all from the same family, had gone swimming in the pond on Saturday evening when the incident occurred.
According to DSP Lawan Shiisu Adam, spokesperson for the Jigawa State Police Command, five teenage girls went to swim in the pond, but unfortunately, four of them – Saina’u Musa, 12, Fiddausi Ado, 11, Habiba Musa, 12, and Bahijja Musa, 13 – were found drowned and floating in the pond. Only Sahura Audu, 8, survived the incident.
A rescue operation was launched by police officers and local divers, and the victims were evacuated from the pond and taken to Gagarawa Primary Health Care. Sadly, four of them were confirmed dead, while Sahura was resuscitated, treated, and discharged.
The Jigawa State Commissioner of Police, CP AT Abdullahi, has extended his condolences to the family and relatives of the victims and prayed for their eternal peace.
He also cautioned parents and guardians to keep a close eye on their children and warned them not to swim in any body of water, especially during the rainy season.