At least 25 people have died and 14 others remain missing after a boat carrying dozens of passengers capsized in Yobe State, northeastern Nigeria, officials said on Sunday, Reuters reported.
The accident occurred just before 8 p.m. local time (1900 GMT) on Saturday when the large canoe, which had departed Adiyani village in northwestern Jigawa State, overturned en route to Garbi in Yobe State. The vessel was carrying 52 passengers, according to Mohammed Goje, head of the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency.
"So far, 13 passengers have been rescued alive, while 25 bodies have been recovered. Search and rescue operations are ongoing for 14 missing persons," Goje said, adding that emergency teams from neighbouring towns had joined local volunteers and security agencies at the scene, according to Reuters.
