A grieving father in Kano State has spoken about the tragic death of his three daughters who drowned after a boat carrying them capsized at Tiga Dam.
The incident occurred on Saturday, August 29, in the Yalwan Rugu-Rugu community of Tudunwada Local Government Area, leaving residents mourning the loss of the three sisters.
The victims were identified as Murjanatu, Atikatu and Bilkisu, popularly known as Amira.
Sisters Were Returning From Farm
According to their 55-year-old father, Malam Abdulhadi Suleiman, the girls had gone to the farm alongside their brother, Usman Abdulhadi, also known as Abba, to assist with rice harvesting. Read original
He said the siblings completed the day's work and boarded a boat to return home.
The journey reportedly appeared normal until the boat reached the middle of the water, when it suddenly capsized.
Malam Abdulhadi said his son was the only male passenger in the boat and could not rescue all three sisters when they fell into the water.
“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 the situation quickly turned into a desperate rescue operation as people in the area attempted to save the victims.
Rescue Efforts Fail
Residents reportedly brought boats to the scene after receiving information about the accident.
However, the rescue operation faced further difficulties when the boats being used to reach the victims also capsized.
The father said three boats were brought in an attempt to rescue the girls, but the efforts were unsuccessful.
A messenger was eventually sent back to Yalwan Rugu-Rugu to alert residents and seek additional assistance.
The report prompted a large mobilisation, with about 200 people reportedly making their way to the scene to participate in the rescue operation.
Despite the efforts, the girls could not be saved.
Bodies Recovered Hours Later
According to their father, the accident happened at about 1pm on Saturday, while the bodies were recovered around 3:30pm.
The tragedy has left the Yalwan Rugu-Rugu community in shock, with residents mourning the loss of three young members of the community.
Malam Abdulhadi said he never imagined that he would experience such a devastating loss.
He described the atmosphere in the village following the incident as unusually quiet, saying residents had struggled to come to terms with what happened.
“The village is silent now. Everybody is shocked because we have never witnessed this kind of tragedy in the history of our village.”
Father Mourns His Daughters
The grieving father said he had hoped his daughters would continue their education and eventually pursue higher education.
Instead, their lives were cut short while they were helping with agricultural work.
“I never expected that they would die at this time. I was expecting them to continue their education and go to higher institutions.”
Despite the devastating loss, Malam Abdulhadi said he had accepted the incident as the will of Almighty Allah.
He prayed for forgiveness and eternal rest for his three daughters.
“I have submitted everything to Almighty Allah; I pray that He forgives them and grants them Jannatul Firdaus.”
The three sisters have since been buried according to Islamic rites.
The incident has renewed concerns about the dangers faced by residents who rely on boats to cross waterways, particularly in communities around large dams and other bodies of water.