According to the Nigeria Security and Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Jigawa, two teenage girls drowned in separate incidents in the state’s Dutse and Kafin Hausa Local Government Areas.
Adamu Shehu, the state NSCDC spokesperson, confirmed the incidents to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Tuesday.
Shehu stated that the deceased, Maimuna Hassan, 3, and Rabi Balarabe, 12, died on Sunday and Monday.
On Monday, the three-year-old fell into a neighbourhood water drain pit in Madobi village, according to him.
“The horrible incident occurred when the young girl left home around 5 p.m. to join her siblings to play outside but did not return along with them.
“A search was launched within the neighbourhood for her whereabouts but yielded no results until around 8:30 p.m. when a friend of her brother spotted her floating gown inside a water drain pit located a few meters from her home.
“She was then brought out from the water and rushed to Dutse General hospital but was pronounced dead by a medical practitioner,” he said.
The spokesman added that her remains were later released to her parents for proper burial.
According to him, the teenage girl, Balarabe drowned in a river in Ashuran Makera village Sunday.
“The said Rabi Balarabe went to wash her clothes with friends and upon completion, decided to take a bath which unfortunately resulted in her death.
“She was taken to Kafin Hausa General Hospital but was confirmed dead and later released to her parents for burial,” the spokesman said.
While commiserating with the families of the deceased, Shehu advised those constructing drain pits without covering them properly to desist from doing so, as that constitutes a threat to the lives of innocent children.
He also called on parents to caution their children against swimming in rivers and ponds.