Nigeria Boat Capsizing Leaves 25 Dead As Rescue Continues

Wednesday 7th January 2026

By inAfrika Newsroom

Nigeria boat accident recovery efforts continued into Monday after officials said at least 25 people died and 14 remained missing when a boat carrying dozens capsized in Yobe State in northeastern Nigeria.

Officials said the accident happened just before 8 p.m. local time on Saturday. The large canoe had departed Adiyani village in northwestern Jigawa State. It overturned on the way to Garbi in Yobe State. In total, it carried 52 passengers, according to the head of the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency, Mohammed Goje.

Goje said 13 passengers were rescued alive. He added that emergency teams from neighbouring towns joined local volunteers and security agencies at the scene. Meanwhile, search and rescue operations remained under way for those still missing.

Police in Jigawa State confirmed the incident and said the canoe capsized due to leakage. They also said safety laws that ban night journeys and overloading were ignored. Therefore, police said they would prosecute the driver for negligence if he survived.

A resident of Adiyani, Babagana Shettima, said casualties were from both the departure area and the destination in Yobe. He added that relatives raised the alarm when the boat’s arrival was delayed. Later, divers recovered some bodies.

Boat accidents are a recurring problem in parts of Nigeria, especially during busy market days and at night. However, enforcement remains uneven. Consequently, communities often rely on informal transport, even when conditions are risky.

For authorities, the incident again raises questions about local waterways safety, inspections, and penalties. In addition, it highlights emergency response gaps in rural corridors. Therefore, Monday’s search updates will be closely watched by families in both states.

Next steps — Nigeria boat accident

Rescue teams are expected to continue searches and publish confirmed victim lists. In addition, Nigeria’s boat accident investigations may move to enforcement of night travel and loading rules.

Why it matters

Transport safety is a governance issue. Therefore, repeated boat disasters deepen poverty risk and strain emergency services in vulnerable communities.