More than 30 people, mostly women and children, fleeing terrorists’ attack in Birnin Wajje, Zamfara State, drowned on Wednesday when their two canoes capsized.
Birnin Wajje is a riverine community two kilometers from the local government headquarters, Bukkuyum of Zamfara State.
Residents of the community said when the terrorists invaded the village around 6 p.m. the victims fled the scene, losing their lives when two canoes they boarded capsized on Wednesday night, October 5, 2022.
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Residents told Daily Trust that the overloaded canoes capsized when they were trying cross a river to flee attack on their village by armed men.
According to residents, the armed criminals had invaded Birnin Waje community firing at residents.
The shootings triggered stampede with many residents struggling to board the canoes to cross a river to Zauma, a community they considered relatively safer, which is located 2km west of Bukkuyum town, the headquarters of Bukkuyum LGA.
However, the canoes became heavily loaded as non of the fleeing residents wanted to be left behind. Despite several warnings by the canoe riders to the residents to get off, the residents remain adamant and moved on.
“The armed men then followed the fleeing residents to the river bank firing shots. At the middle of the river the canoe riders who probably could not withstand the gunfire by the bandits jumped into the waters leaving the canoes adrift. Even though, some residents managed to escape after they plunged into the waters and swam to the shores,” a resident Babangida Bukkuyum said.
“I can tell you that three children of my younger sister are among the victims. There is intense fear that the bandits are still in the area. This has greatly hampered rescue efforts. It is really a tragedy.”
The Director-General to the State Governor Bello Matawalle, on new media, Ibrahim Zauma, who is also from the area, confirmed the incident on his Facebook page.
“Following an onboard stampede of displaced persons running from pursuing bandit terrorists at Zauma ferry station, an unknown number of mostly women and children got drowned after two canoes capsized.”
Abubakar Shehu, a resident of Bukkuyum said the boats capsized due to overload.
Mr Shehu, who is part of the rescue process, said 30 bodies have been recovered as of 9:15 a.m on Thursday.
“We’ve recovered 30 corpses and still trying. The river is deep and wide so it’s possible that some of the dead bodies have been washed away but we’ll keep trying,” Mr Shehu said. He added that more local divers have joined the search and rescue effort.
The assaults are being staged by bandits who are widely believed to be hiding in expansive Gando and Barikin Daji forests in Bukkuyum and Gummi local government areas.
Thirteen days ago, 15 worshippers were shot dead by the armed men following an attack on mosque in Ruwan Jema community of Bukkuyum local government area.
Communities under Bukkuyum and Gummi have been witnessing renewed terrorists’ attacks since January.
