At least 30 people are feared dead after a canoe carrying about 40 passengers capsized in Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
The incident occurred on Sunday evening at Malamawar Yandutse village. According to an eyewitness, most of the passengers were women and children.
Rescue operations are ongoing, while families have been asked to help identify recovered bodies for burial.
Confirming the incident, the Director of Planning at the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Muhammad Bala Sanusi, said the exact number of casualties and survivors has yet to be established.
He explained that officials of the agency are working with local residents to rescue survivors and account for all passengers, adding that the cause of the accident is still unknown.
The Chairman of the Emergency Management Committee, Malam Habibu Dauda, also confirmed the incident and appealed to the public to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information until the relevant authorities release an official statement.
Rescue efforts were still underway at the time of filing this report, and officials said the casualty figure could change as the operation continues.
