Four teenage girls drowned in a river at Malkaderi village, in Gagarawa Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
A local resident told DAILY POST that the tragic event happened on Saturday evening. The girls, who were all from the same family, went to swim in a nearby pond.
The resident explained all the girls drowned in the pond. Kind-hearted people from the village found their bodies and brought them out.
The Police spokesman, DSP Lawan Shiisu Adam, confirmed the sad news in a statement on Sunday.
He said, “On September 28, 2024, at around 3:30 PM, five teenage girls decided to swim in a pond at Malkaderi village, Gagarawa LGA. By 11:00 AM, four of them: Saina’u Musa (12 years old), Fiddausi Ado (11 years old), Habiba Musa (12 years old), and Bahijja Musa (13 years old) were found floating and dead in the pond. The fifth girl, Sahura Audu, who is 8 years old, survived.”
He said police officers and local divers quickly went to the pond to rescue the girls.
The girls were taken out of the water and rushed to Gagarawa Primary Health Care center.
Unfortunately, four of the girls were confirmed dead by the doctor on duty. Sahura was saved, cared for, and allowed to go home.
The bodies of the deceased were given to their families for burial.
The Commissioner of Police in Jigawa State, CP AT Abdullahi, expressed his deep sorrow and condolences to the families. He prayed for the departed souls to rest in peace.
He also advised parents and guardians to watch their children closely and to not let them swim in ponds or rivers, especially during the rainy season when water levels are high.