By Miriam Humbe
Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, has activated the Agency’s Maiduguri Operations Office to deploy an Emergency Response Team (ERT) to support ongoing rescue efforts following a tragic boat mishap in Nguru Local Government Area of Yobe State.
The NEMA team will coordinate with the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (YOSEMA) and other relevant stakeholders to strengthen the search and rescue operations.
NEMA was alerted to the incident by YOSEMA.
The mishap occurred at approximately 7:48 p.m. on Saturday, 3rd January 2026, and involved a canoe conveying 52 passengers travelling from Adiyani town in Guri LGA of Jigawa State to Garbi town in Nguru LGA of Yobe State.
The passengers were reportedly returning from fishing and farming activities when the canoe capsized midway across the water channel.
As at the time of reporting, 25 persons have been confirmed dead, while 13 persons have been successfully rescued through the combined efforts of emergency responders and community volunteers.
14 persons remain missing, and search and rescue operations are still ongoing.
The Director General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, expressed deep sympathy to the families of the deceased and reaffirmed the commitment of NEMA to continue working closely with Yobe SEMA, the Local Emergency Management Committee (LEMC), local divers and community volunteers to support the operation.
She reiterated her appeal to riverine communities to prioritise safety by avoiding the overloading of boats and ensuring the use of life-saving devices during water transportation.
Humsi Media Online will provide further updates as rescue operations progress.
