RismadarVoice Reporters, August 31, 2026
Three sisters have drowned after the canoe they were travelling in reportedly capsized at Tiga Dam in Tudun Wada Local Government Area of Kano State.
The victims, identified as Murjanatu, Atikatu and Bilkisu, popularly known as Amira, were members of the Yalwan Rugu-Rugu community.
The incident reportedly occurred at about 2pm on Saturday when the canoe overturned while the three girls were travelling across the dam.
The tragedy has thrown the community into mourning, with the Chairperson of Tudun Wada Local Government Area, Sa’adatu Salisu Soja, describing the incident as a devastating loss.
In a condolence message issued on Sunday, Soja sympathised with the victims’ families and the people of Yalwan Rugu-Rugu, praying for strength for those affected.
“We share the pain of the bereaved family and pray that Almighty Allah forgives the deceased, grants them Aljannatul Firdaus, and gives their loved ones the strength to bear this painful loss,” she said.
She also prayed for protection against similar incidents in the future.
However, the Kano State Fire Service said it had not received any official report of the accident as of Sunday.
The agency’s spokesperson, Saminu Abdullahi, told journalists on Monday that the Fire Service learnt of the incident through media reports and the condolence statement from the local government chairperson.
“We have not received the report officially. We only saw it in the news and in the condolence message released by the Chairperson of Tudun Wada,” Abdullahi said.
The deaths have renewed concerns over water safety in communities around Tiga Dam, where residents often rely on canoes for transportation.
Previous boat accidents in Kano have also resulted in fatalities, highlighting the need for improved safety measures, proper monitoring of water transport and faster emergency response mechanisms.
