At least 25 people were feared dead in a canoe accident in Nguru Local Government Area of Yobe State, while 13 passengers were reportedly rescued and 14 others remain missing, according to a preliminary report by authorities.
PUNCH Online had reported that the incident occurred at about 7:48 pm on Saturday, when a canoe carrying 52 passengers capsized while travelling from Adiyani town in Guri Local Government Area of Jigawa State to Garbi town in Nguru LGA, Yobe State.
Eyewitnesses and initial findings indicate that the victims were returning from Adiyani town, where they had been engaged in fishing, farming, and other local business activities, when the canoe overturned mid-journey.
The Yobe State Emergency Agency confirmed the incident through its Executive Secretary, Mohammed Goje during an exclusive interview with our correspondent, saying the agency received a distress alert shortly after the accident and immediately activated its emergency response mechanisms.
“The Yobe State Emergency Management Agency can confirm the unfortunate canoe mishap that occurred along the Nguru waterway. Preliminary reports available to us indicate that 52 persons were on board the canoe before it capsized, resulting in confirmed fatalities, rescues, and some passengers still missing,” Goje stated.
He added that coordinated rescue operations are ongoing, with multiple stakeholders working together to locate the missing persons.
“Our search and rescue teams from Bade and Nguru Local Government Areas have been deployed and are working in collaboration with security agencies and local community volunteers. We are committed to ensuring that all missing persons are accounted for, while recovered victims are given proper medical and humanitarian support,” he said.
As of the time of filing this report, 13 passengers have been successfully rescued and are receiving medical attention, while 25 bodies have been recovered.
14 passengers remain unaccounted for, prompting an intensified search and rescue operation.
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