The body of a 15-year-old boy has been recovered from a pond in Gabari village, Garki Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
The spokesperson of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Jigawa State Command, ASC Badaruddeen Tijjani, confirmed the incident on Thursday in a statement issued in Dutse.
He said the body of the deceased, Sunusi Abubakar, was discovered lifeless in the pond locally called Mahayin gidan Toro, about 1.5 kilometres north of Gabari village, around 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday.
Tijjani explained that the teenager’s shoes and trousers were first spotted abandoned on the riverbank on September 30, raising concern among villagers.
According to the boy’s father, Abubakar Gabari, his son had gone to swim in the pond around 5:00 p.m. but never returned home, prompting an immediate search by the community.
The NSCDC confirmed that the body showed no signs of injury and was handed over to the family for burial according to Islamic rites.
Tijjani urged the public to remain vigilant and prioritise safety around open water bodies to avoid such tragedies.
He noted that the Jigawa NSCDC remained committed to safeguarding lives and property while stressing the need for increased public awareness across the state.
The spokesperson further reiterated the command’s resolve to work closely with local communities to prevent future accidents.
Incidents of drowning remain a recurring safety challenge in Jigawa and other northern states, especially during the rainy season when ponds, rivers, and irrigation channels rises and expands.
Punch/Adebukola Aluko
