The number of fatalities from the tragic boat accident in Nguru Local Government Area of Yobe State has increased from 25 to 29 after additional bodies were recovered.
The update was confirmed by the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency, which disclosed that of the 29 bodies found, 24 were from Nguru LGA, two from Yusufari LGA, and three from Gurin LGA in Jigawa State.
The agency also reported that 12 people were rescued and treated before being discharged, three victims were admitted to hospital, with two later discharged, while search-and-rescue efforts are still underway to locate eight missing persons.
Meanwhile, the 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 to support ongoing rescue efforts following the tragic boat mishap.
This was contained in a statement from the agency, which indicated that the NEMA team will coordinate with the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency and other relevant stakeholders to strengthen search-and-rescue operations.
“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, local divers and community volunteers to support the operation,” the statement said.
The NEMA DG also 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.