A canoe mishap in Gamboru-Ngala, Borno State, on Sunday evening reportedly claimed three lives, while five other passengers were rescued after the boat overturned during a river crossing between Nigeria’s Gamboru community and Fotokol in Cameroon.
Security analyst Zagazola Makama disclosed the incident in a post on X on Monday.
The post noted that the canoe, piloted by Mamman Nur Abbagana from Kasuwan Katako in Gamboru, capsized at about 6:30 p.m., plunging all eight occupants into the river.
“All the travellers were Chadian nationals who were reportedly returning from Jos, Plateau State, and heading to N’Djamena, Chad Republic,” Makama wrote.
Five of the passengers were rescued alive, though their identities had not been confirmed as of the time of the report.
However, a woman identified as 34-year-old Alphosine Makebu Beboroum and her two daughters, 3-year-old Centich Mamajibe and 10-month-old Mamajilem Bebaroum were feared drowned and had not yet been recovered by Monday morning.
Search and rescue efforts were still ongoing.
Makama also reported that the police arrested the canoe paddler for violating the Borno State Government’s safety directive, which requires all canoe operators to provide life jackets for passengers.