At least 26 people have died and 14 others remain missing after a boat carrying farmers and fishermen capsized in northeastern Nigeria, emergency officials said on Sunday.
The accident occurred late Saturday when a makeshift passenger boat traveling from Jigawa State to Yobe State overturned, according to Mohammed Goje, executive director of the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency.
“Rescue teams and emergency volunteers have so far recovered 26 bodies,” Goje told reporters, adding that 13 passengers were rescued alive. Search and rescue operations are continuing as authorities work to locate those still missing.
Boat accidents are frequent on Nigeria’s inland waterways, often blamed on overloading, poor vessel maintenance, and disregard for safety regulations. Police said the boat’s captain could face prosecution if he survives the incident.
Although dozens of people die each year in waterway accidents across the country, boat operator Sunusi Ahmed noted that a tragedy of this scale has not occurred in the area for two or three years.
“Such accidents usually happen because boats are overloaded,” he said. “Even though some preventive measures exist, we urge authorities to take stronger action against overloading.”
