•The late sisters
The Yalwan Rugu-Rugu community in Tudunwada Local Government Area of Kano State was thrown into mourning on Saturday after three sisters drowned when the boat carrying them capsized in Tiga Dam.
The victims, Murjanatu, Atikatu and Bilkisu, popularly known as Amira, had gone to the farm with their brother, Usman Abdulhadi, also known as Abba, to help with the rice harvest, reports Daily Trust.
Their father, Malam Abdulhadi Suleiman, 55, told our correspondent that his daughters had completed the day’s work and were returning home when tragedy struck.
“They went to the farm with their brother to assist him in harvesting rice. They successfully finished the work and boarded a boat to return home,” he said.
According to him, the journey was proceeding normally until the boat reached the middle of the water.
“Suddenly, the boat capsized. Their brother was the only man inside the boat, and he could not rescue all of them,” the grieving father said.
He said people around the area made desperate efforts to save the girls.
Neighbours reportedly rushed to the scene with boats, but the rescue efforts turned tragic as the boats brought to assist also capsized.
“People brought three boats in an attempt to rescue them, but unfortunately, the rescue efforts failed,” he said.
A messenger was eventually sent to Yalwan Rugu-Rugu to alert residents about the tragedy and seek help.
The news spread quickly, and about 200 people reportedly mobilised to the scene in a desperate attempt to rescue the girls.
But by the time they were brought out of the water, it was too late.
The accident occurred at about 1pm on Saturday, while the bodies were recovered around 3:30pm, according to the girls’ father.
Malam Abdulhadi said he never imagined he would experience such a tragedy.
He said the death of his three daughters had left him devastated and the entire community in shock.
“The village is silent now. Everybody is shocked because we have never witnessed this kind of tragedy in the history of our village,” he said.
The father said he had hoped to see his daughters continue their education and eventually attend tertiary institutions.
“I never expected that they would die at this time. I was expecting them to continue their education and go to higher institutions,” he said.
But amid his grief, Malam Abdulhadi said he had accepted the tragedy as Allah’s will.
“I have submitted everything to Almighty Allah; I pray that He forgives them and grants them Jannatul Firdaus,” he said.
The girls have since been buried according to Islamic rites.
‘We did everything possible to save them’
Malam Hussaini Saifullahi of Yalwan Rugu-Rugu, an uncle of the deceased who was at the scene when the incident occurred, said the family and members of the community made frantic efforts to save the girls.
“We submitted everything to Allah because it is Qadar (destiny). We did everything possible to rescue them,” he told Daily Trust.
He said several boats were deployed during the rescue operation, but the efforts did not produce the desired result.
“Three boats came to assist in rescuing them, but unfortunately, the rescue attempts failed,” he said.
Saifullahi expressed appreciation to members of the community who joined the rescue operation and attended the funeral prayers of the three sisters.
“We’ve been receiving condolence messages from different people, and we appreciate everybody who came to assist us in the rescue efforts and those who attended their funeral prayers,” he said.
The Chairman of Tudunwada Local Government Area and Chairman of the Kano State Local Government Chairmen’s Association, Hajiya Sa’adatu Salisu Soja Maijama’a, also confirmed the incident in a statement.
She said the tragedy occurred at about 2pm on Saturday when the boat conveying the girls capsized at Tiga Dam.
The council chairman extended her condolences to the family of the deceased and the people of the area, praying to Allah to forgive the victims and grant their families the strength to bear the loss.
However, the spokesperson of the Kano State Fire Service, Saminu Abdullahi, told our correspondent that the service was not officially contacted by either the Tudunwada Local Government authorities or members of the community about the incident.
He said the agency only became aware of the tragedy after seeing an announcement by the local government chairman on social media.
