No fewer than 25 persons have been confirmed dead following a tragic boat accident in Garin Garbi, Nguru Local Government Area of Yobe State.
Eyewitnesses told PLATFORM TIMES on Saturday that the passenger boat capsized on Friday, throwing occupants into the water and triggering a frantic rescue effort by residents and security operatives. Fourteen passengers were reportedly rescued alive, while several others are still missing.
A security analyst, Zagazola Makama, who first reported the incident, said the boat was conveying men and women when it overturned under circumstances that were yet to be officially explained as of the time of filing this report.
Confirming the tragedy, the Chairman of Nguru Local Government Area, Hon. Muhd M. Ahmed Mairami, visited the scene of the incident, where he expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and commiserated with families of the victims.
Residents of the community said recovery efforts were ongoing, with security personnel and community volunteers combing the surrounding waters in search of missing passengers.
“The dead include both men and women. Some bodies have been recovered, while others are yet to be found,” a resident said.
Mairami appealed for calm and prayers as the search and rescue operations continue, assuring affected families that the local government would provide necessary support during the difficult period.
A video shared on Sunday by Makama on his X (formerly Twitter) handle showed the moment one of the bodies was recovered from the water, underscoring the scale of the tragedy.
Boat accidents are common in riverine communities across the country, often linked to overloading, poor safety measures and lack of life jackets.
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