MAIDUGURI, Nigeria: At least 26 people have died and 14 others are missing after a boat carrying dozens of passengers capsized in northeast Nigeria, emergency officials said on Sunday.
The incident occurred on Saturday evening as a large wooden canoe travelled from Adiyani village in Jigawa State to Garbi in neighbouring Yobe State, according to the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (YOSEMA).
“So far, emergency volunteers and rescue teams have recovered 26 bodies,” said Mohammed Goje, executive secretary of YOSEMA. The emergency agency said in a statement that 14 others were missing.
The boat was carrying 52 passengers, most of them farmers, fishermen and traders, officials said.
The accident happened at about 7:48 pm local time (1848 GMT) while passengers were returning home after a market day in Jigawa State, Goje said. The canoe overturned midway through the journey.
Police in Jigawa State said the boat capsized due to leakage. They added that safety regulations banning night travel and overloading had been ignored.
“If the driver survives, he will be prosecuted for negligence,” said Lawan Adam, the Jigawa State police spokesperson.
Rescue efforts continue
Emergency teams from nearby towns, along with security agencies and local volunteers, have joined the rescue operation, officials said.
YOSEMA said specialised search and rescue teams from Bade and Nguru local government areas had been deployed to support efforts at the scene.
“The rescued passengers are receiving medical treatment,” Goje said.
Babagana Shettima, a resident of Adiyani, said victims came from both the departure village and communities in Yobe State.
“When the boat’s arrival was delayed, relatives raised the alarm,” he told Reuters. “Divers later recovered some bodies.”
Boat accidents are frequent in Nigeria, particularly in rural areas where waterways serve as key transport routes.
Such incidents are often linked to overloading, poorly maintained vessels and a lack of safety measures.
In September, at least 60 people died when an overloaded boat sank in Niger State in central Nigeria after hitting a tree stump, authorities said.
