By Oluyinka Onigbinde
No fewer than 25 persons have been confirmed dead, while 13 others were rescued alive following a canoe accident in Nguru Local Government Area of Yobe State.
The incident occurred at about 7:48 p.m. on Saturday, January 3, 2025, when a canoe conveying 52 passengers capsized while en route from Adiyani town in Guri Local Government Area of Jigawa State to Garbi town in Nguru LGA of Yobe State.
Confirming the tragedy, the Executive Secretary of the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mohammed Goje, said the passengers were returning from Adiyani town, where they had engaged in fishing, farming and other commercial activities, when the canoe overturned midway into the journey.
Goje disclosed that 14 passengers are still missing, prompting intensified search and rescue efforts along the waterway.
According to him, the agency received a distress call shortly after the incident and immediately activated its emergency response.
“The Yobe State Emergency Management Agency can confirm the unfortunate canoe mishap that occurred along the Nguru waterway. Preliminary reports available to us indicate that 52 persons were on board the canoe before it capsized, resulting in confirmed fatalities, rescues and some passengers still missing,” he stated.
He added that rescue operations are ongoing with the collaboration of security agencies, emergency responders and local community volunteers.
“So far, 13 passengers have been successfully rescued, while 14 others remain missing. Search and rescue operations are ongoing to locate the missing persons and recover bodies,” Goje said, noting that SEMA search and rescue teams from Bade and Nguru had been deployed to reinforce efforts on the ground.
Meanwhile, Yobe State Governor, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, has expressed deep sympathy with the families of the victims and the people of Nguru and Guri Local Government Areas.
The governor directed that all necessary medical and logistical support be provided immediately to survivors receiving treatment, stressing that referral services should be expedited without delay to save lives.
Meanwhile, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) on Sunday, commiserated with the families of victims in a recent boat mishaps which occurred in Yobe and Lagos States.
While expressing its sympathy, the authority underscored the need for safety across inland waterways in Nigeria.
The authority expressed its condolences in a statement in Lokoja, by Assistant General Manager Corporate Affairs of NIWA, Mr Suleiman Makama.
He said that NIWA noted with discomfort, the unfortunate boat mishaps in both states, after an extensive accident-free period on the inland waterways.
“The authority commiserates with the families of the departed on the unfortunate accidents.
“NIWA shares in their grief and remain committed to intensify our surveillance activities and safety campaigns for safer waterways,” he said
He disclosed that in response to the mishaps, the authority has mobilised all relevant facilities in conjunction with other relevant agencies towards a successful rescue efforts in Yobe state.
Consequently, Makama urged waterways users to adhere strictly to safety guidelines at all times, in order to avoid such unfortunate incidences.
“It is important to remind Nigerians that the ban on night sailing is still in force; no passenger boat is permitted to be on the inland waterways beyond 6.00 p.m.
“It’s an offence to be on the inland waters without putting on the standard lifejacket; All boat operators are equally reminded to avoid overspeeding and overloading their boats at all times,” he said
According to him, NIWA has commenced investigations into the cause of the accidents, in collaboration with sister agencies.
“Consequently, appropriate action shall be taken promptly by the authority after the findings, ” he said
