The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has activated its Maiduguri Operations Office to deploy an Emergency Response Team (ERT) following a tragic boat accident in Nguru Local Government Area of Yobe State.
In a statement on Sunday, the Director-General of NEMA, Mrs Zubaida Umar, said the agency was working in close coordination with the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (YOSEMA) and other relevant stakeholders to reinforce ongoing search and rescue operations.
NEMA disclosed that it was alerted to the incident by YOSEMA. The mishap occurred at about 7:48 p.m. on Saturday, 3 January 2026, when a canoe carrying 52 passengers capsized midway across a water channel while travelling from Adiyani town in Guri Local Government Area of Jigawa State to Garbi town in Nguru Local Government Area of Yobe State. The passengers were reportedly returning from fishing and farming activities at the time of the incident.
As of the latest update, 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 missing, with search and rescue operations ongoing.
Mrs Umar expressed deep sympathy to the families of the deceased and reaffirmed NEMA’s commitment to sustaining collaboration with YOSEMA, the Local Emergency Management Committee, local divers, and community volunteers until the operation is concluded.
She also renewed her call on riverine communities to observe safety precautions, including avoiding the overloading of boats and ensuring the use of life-saving devices during water transportation. Further updates, she said, would be provided as rescue efforts continue.
