Yobe River Tragedy: 29 Dead, Dozens Missing After Boat Capsizes

A routine river journey turned deadly over the weekend as a boat carrying 52 passengers capsized along the Yobe/Kumadugu River, leaving 29 people dead and 11 others still missing.

The ill-fated vessel was traveling from Adayini town in Jigawa State to the Guri Community in Nguru Local Government Area of Yobe State.

Mohammed Goje, Executive Secretary of the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), told Global Mirror News that two days of frantic search and rescue operations have so far rescued 12 survivors.

 “We are still searching for 11 passengers who remain unaccounted for in the river that flows into Lake Chad in Borno State,” he said.

Governor Mai Mala Buni has immediately responded to the disaster, releasing N500,000 to aid the burials of the 29 victims, most of whom were farmers and traders.

Relief materials, including food and essential items, have also been dispatched to support the survivors.

Authorities blamed the accident on overloading and poor visibility, highlighting longstanding concerns over safety on Yobe’s waterways.

“From now on, all boats and canoes must operate with life-saving jackets for every passenger,” Goje stressed. “No vessel will be allowed to operate after 6:00 p.m.”

The incident has intensified calls for stricter regulation of river transport in the state to prevent further tragedies.

As families mourn their loved ones, the Government’s swift action offers a measure of relief, even as rescue teams continue the search for the missing.