Tragedy struck in Jigawa State as the body of a 15-year-old boy, identified as Sunusi Abubakar, was recovered from a pond in Gabari village, Garki Local Government Area.
The spokesman of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Jigawa Command, ASC Badaruddeen Tijjani, confirmed the incident in a statement on Thursday in Dutse. He said the boy was found dead in a pond locally called Mahayin gidan Toro, about 1.5 kilometres north of Gabari village, around 9 a.m. on Wednesday.
Tijjani explained that villagers had first noticed the teenager’s shoes and trousers abandoned at the bank of the pond on September 30. This raised fears that he may have drowned.
The boy’s father, Abubakar Gabari, said his son had gone swimming in the pond around 5 p.m. but never returned home. This led to an immediate search by community members.
“The body showed no signs of injury and has been handed over to the family for burial in line with Islamic rites,” Tijjani added.
The NSCDC warned residents to take water safety more seriously, especially in rural communities where children often swim in open ponds and rivers.
“Residents are encouraged to report unsafe areas to security agencies for timely intervention,” Tijjani said, stressing that the command is working closely with local communities to prevent further tragedies.
The state NSCDC commandant, Muhammad Ingawa, also appealed to parents and traditional leaders to caution children against swimming in unsafe water bodies.
“The NSCDC’s efforts aim to create a safer environment for all Jigawa citizens,” he said.
Drowning incidents have become common in Jigawa and other northern states, especially during the rainy season when ponds, rivers, and irrigation channels swell.
In September 2024, four teenage girls drowned in Malkaderi village, Gagarawa LGA, while another case in Buji LGA claimed the lives of three girls aged 12 and 13. Two young men also died in Birninkudu LGA while trying to cross a pond to a nearby market.
