At least 26 people have died and 14 others remain missing after a passenger boat capsized in northeastern Nigeria, according to emergency officials. The accident occurred late Saturday as a wooden boat carrying farmers and fishermen was traveling from Jigawa State to neighboring Yobe State. Mohammed Goje, executive director of Yobe State’s Emergency Management Agency, said rescue teams and local volunteers had recovered 26 bodies by Sunday, while 13 passengers were rescued alive. Search operations are continuing along the waterway.
Authorities say the boat was rudimentary and operating on a busy river route commonly used by rural communities for trade and travel. While the exact cause is still under investigation, officials noted that boat accidents in Nigeria are frequently linked to overloading, poor vessel maintenance, and disregard for safety rules. Police said the boat operator could face prosecution if he survives, as part of efforts to curb repeated incidents on inland waterways. Although fatal boat accidents occur every year across Nigeria, local boat worker Sunusi Ahmed said disasters of this scale are relatively rare in the area and called for stricter enforcement against overloading to prevent future tragedies.
