By Ahmed Kingimi
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, Jan 4 (Reuters) – At least 25 people have died and 14 others remain missing after a boat carrying dozens of passengers capsized in Yobe State, northeastern Nigeria, officials said on Sunday.
The accident occurred just before 8 p.m. local time (1900 GMT) on Saturday when the large canoe, which had departed Adiyani village in northwestern Jigawa State, overturned en route to Garbi in Yobe State. The vessel was carrying 52 passengers, according to Mohammed Goje, head of the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency.
“So far, 13 passengers have been rescued alive, while 25 bodies have been recovered. Search and rescue operations are ongoing for 14 missing persons,” Goje said, adding that emergency teams from neighbouring towns had joined local volunteers and security agencies at the scene.
Police in Jigawa State confirmed the incident and said the canoe capsized due to leakage. “It was a market day, and the victims were returning home after trading. If the driver survives, he will be prosecuted for negligence,” said Lawan Adam, the state police spokesperson, noting that safety laws banning night journeys and overloading were ignored.
Babagana Shettima, a resident of Adiyani, said casualties were from both his village and the destination in Yobe. “When the boat’s arrival was delayed, relatives raised the alarm. It was later discovered the canoe had capsized halfway. Divers recovered some bodies,” he told Reuters.
Deadly boat accidents are common in Nigeria, where vessels often operate without safety measures. In September, at least 60 people died when an overloaded boat sank after it collided with a tree stump in Niger State, central Nigeria.
(Reporting by Ahmed Kingimi and Hamza Ibrahim, Writing by Ben Ezeamalu; Editing by Ros Russell)
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