Tragedy has struck Malkaderi village in Gagarawa Local Government Area of Jigawa State after four female teenagers drowned in a pond on Saturday morning.
The Public Relations Officer of the state police command, DSP Lawan Shiisu Adam, confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday.
He said the tragic and devastating incident happened around 11 am when the five teenage girls went to swim in a pond in the village.
“In a tragic and devastating incident reported to the Command on September 28, 2024, at about 1530hrs, five teenagers, all female, went swimming in a pond at Malkaderi village, Gagarawa LGA, on the same date at about 1100hrs.
But unfortunately, four of them namely; Saina’u Musa, 12; Fiddausi Ado, 11; Habiba Musa, 12; and Bahijja Musa, 13, were found drowned and floating in the pond, while Sahura Audu, eight, was still struggling,” Adam said.
He said following receipt of the report, a team of police officers and divers rushed to the scene and launched a rescue operation.
The victims were all evacuated from the pond and rushed to the Gagarawa Primary Health Centre.
According to him, four victims were confirmed dead by the medical doctor on duty, while Sahura was resuscitated, treated and discharged.
He said the corpses were later released to their relatives for proper burial.
The Jigawa State Commissioner of Police, AT Abdullahi, extended his condolences to the deceased’s families and relatives and prayed for their eternal peace.
He therefore cautioned parents and guardians to keep a close eye on their children’s whereabouts and warned them not to swim in any body of water, especially during the rainy season when the volume of most ponds, rivers, and streams is higher.
(PUNCH)