Tragedy struck the Durum community in Bauchi Local Government Area, Bauchi State, on Tuesday as three teenage boys drowned while swimming in a river after engaging in mining activities.
The victims, identified as 16-year-old Habibu Mohammed, 16-year-old Abubakar Mohammed, and 14-year-old Zailani Sule, were residents of Durum Village. According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred around 1 p.m. when the teenagers entered the river to cool off after their mining work.
Community members who retrieved the bodies said the boys were immediately rushed to the Specialist Hospital in Bauchi but were confirmed dead on arrival.
Yakubu Ahmad, the head of Jinkiri Village, told counterinsurgency expert Zagazola Makama that the boys were frequent visitors to the river. “They used to come here for mining and would swim in the river afterward. Sadly, this time, fate took a tragic turn. We are devastated,” he said.
Confirming the incident, spokesperson for the Bauchi State Police Command, SP Ahmed Wakil, said an investigation has been launched to determine the circumstances surrounding the drowning.
“A recent tragedy in Jinkiri Village, Tirwun Ward, Bauchi LGA, led to the death of three teenagers—Habibu Mohammed, Abubakar Mohammed, and Zailani Sule. They had gone swimming after mining and unfortunately drowned,” Wakil stated.
He added that the teenagers were already dead before they could receive medical attention. “Despite prompt efforts by locals, the boys were pronounced dead at the hospital,” he said.
Wakil noted that preliminary investigations revealed the teenagers had been mining before heading to the river. He extended the command’s condolences to the bereaved families and urged communities to prioritize safety during water-related activities, especially in adverse weather.
“The Nigeria Police Force, Bauchi State Command, under the leadership of CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, sends heartfelt condolences to the families and reiterates the importance of safety awareness,” Wakil added.
The bodies have since been released to their families for burial following medical examination.
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This incident marks the second reported drowning in Bauchi LGA this year. In May, four workers at the Gubi Water Treatment Plant—including a father and his son—also drowned while performing routine maintenance at the facility.
