No fewer than 25 people are feared dead, 13 rescued, and 14 others missing after a canoe carrying 52 passengers capsized on a waterway in the Nguru Local Government Area of Yobe State on Saturday evening.

The incident occurred at approximately 7:48 pm as the canoe was travelling from Adiyani town in the Guri Local Government Area of Jigawa State to Garbi town in Nguru LGA, according to eyewitnesses and preliminary reports.

Passengers were returning from fishing, farming, and other local business activities when the vessel overturned mid-journey.

The Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (YSEMA) confirmed the accident through its Executive Secretary, Mohammed Goje, who said the agency received a distress alert shortly after the mishap.

“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 said.

He added that search and rescue operations are ongoing. “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,” Goje noted.

As of Sunday morning, 13 passengers had been rescued and were receiving medical attention. Recovery teams have retrieved 25 bodies, while 14 passengers remain unaccounted for, prompting an intensified operation to locate them.

Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with community members joining rescue efforts alongside emergency personnel. Local authorities have urged residents to exercise caution while navigating waterways, especially during the dry season when river currents can be unpredictable.

The Yobe State government has pledged to provide support to the families of the victims and ensure that survivors receive adequate care, while investigators are looking into the cause of the capsizing, including potential overloading or poor weather conditions.