By Nkechi Eze
The National Emergency Management Agency has activated its Maiduguri Operations Office following a tragic boat mishap in Nguru Local Government Area of Yobe State, as efforts intensify to rescue survivors and account for missing passengers.
Acting on the directive of the Director General of NEMA, Mrs Zubaida Umar, an Emergency Response Team has been deployed to the scene to reinforce ongoing search and rescue operations. The team is working in close coordination with the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency, the Local Emergency Management Committee, as well as local divers and community volunteers involved in the response.
NEMA disclosed that it was alerted to the incident by the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency. The mishap occurred at about 7:48 p.m. on Saturday, 3 January 2026, when a canoe conveying 52 passengers capsized midway across a water channel. The passengers were travelling from Adiyani town in Guri Local Government Area of Jigawa State to Garbi town in Nguru Local Government Area of Yobe State, reportedly returning from fishing and farming activities.
As at the time of reporting, 25 persons have been confirmed dead, while 13 others have been rescued through the combined efforts of emergency responders and community volunteers. Fourteen passengers are still unaccounted for, with search and rescue operations continuing.
Mrs Umar expressed deep sympathy to the families of those who lost their lives in the incident and reaffirmed NEMA’s commitment to sustaining collaboration with Yobe SEMA and other stakeholders until the operation is concluded. She also renewed her appeal to riverine communities to prioritise safety on waterways by avoiding overloading of boats and ensuring the use of life-saving devices during water transportation.
NEMA assured that further updates would be made available as rescue efforts progress.
