Yobe boat mishap death toll rises to 29

The death toll from Saturday’s boat mishap which occurred in Nguru Local Government Area of Yobe State has risen from 25 earlier announced by the state government to 29.

The Executive Secretary of the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (YOSEMA), Dr Mohammad Goje, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, January 5, 2026.

Goje said four additional bodies were recovered from the river, adding that search and rescue operation would continue as between eight to ten passengers were still missing.

Goje stated that 13 passengers who were injured in the boat mishap had been treated and discharged from the hospital.

The executive secretary said preliminary reports showed that overloading and structural defect were among the major causes of the accident.

25 feared dead, 13 rescued after boat capsizes in Yobe

He added that Governor Mai Mala Buni had directed YOSEMA to liaise with relevant federal government agencies on safety measures in water transportation in the area.

Goje said through such collaboration, policing of water transportation would become possible and the use of life jackets could be enforced.

The ill-fated boat, which took off from Adiyani in neighbouring Jigawa State, capsized along Yobe River in Garbi town at about 7:48 p.m. on Saturday.

Over 50 passengers mainly farmers and traders were believed to be on board when the incident occurred in the area, which is over 230km from Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State.

The Star