A heartbreaking incident has shaken Durum village in Bauchi State as three teenage boys drowned while swimming in a river near a mining site on Tuesday afternoon.

The victims—Habibu Mohammed (16), Abubakar Mohammed (16), and Zalani Suleiman (14)—had joined a group of young boys who often visit the Jinkiri village area to scavenge for minerals near a local mining site.

According to reports shared by security expert Zagazola Makama, after finishing their mining activity, the three boys decided to take a swim in a nearby river, something local youths regularly do to cool off in the heat. Sadly, the fun turned fatal as they never resurfaced.

Malam Yakubu Ahmad, the hamlet head of Jinkiri, confirmed that the boys were eventually pulled out of the water unconscious and rushed to Bauchi Specialist Hospital, where doctors pronounced them dead on arrival.

“They usually came around here for mining and would go swimming after. But this time, things went wrong. We are heartbroken,” Ahmad said.

The Bauchi State Police Command has confirmed the incident and said that officers were dispatched immediately after receiving a distress call. After recovery, no signs of foul play were found on the bodies.

The tragic loss has sent shockwaves through the community, raising concerns about the safety of unsupervised minors around mining sites and water bodies.

Local leaders are now calling for increased safety awareness and possibly placing restrictions around hazardous areas to prevent similar incidents in the future.