Peter Obi mourns Jigawa canoe tragedy, demands end to ‘systemic failures’

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Mr Peter Obi, has expressed grief over the canoe mishap in Jigawa State that reportedly claimed the lives of at least 40 women and children.

9bi also urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to tackle the systemic failures behind recurring water transport disasters.

Obi, in a post on his X handle on Monday, described the incident in the Malamawa community, Ringim Local Government Area, as a monumental tragedy for Jigawa State and the nation.

He lamented that the victims, mostly women and children, represented the backbone of families and the hope of the country’s future.

“I am deeply saddened by the tragic news emerging from the Malamawa community in Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State, where at least 40 women and children are feared dead following a devastating canoe mishap,” Obi wrote.

“My heart goes out to the grieving families who are enduring this unimaginable pain. I pray that the Almighty grants them the strength to bear this irreplaceable loss,” he said.

The former Anambra State governor also called for urgent action to prevent similar tragedies, stressing that the country must confront the underlying causes of such recurring incidents.

“As we mourn, let us also address the systemic failures that contribute to these recurring disasters,” Obi added.