Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has described the recent boat mishap in Yobe State as a “deeply heartrending” and avoidable tragedy, highlighting serious safety lapses on Nigeria’s inland waterways that continue to endanger rural communities.
The incident occurred on January 3, 2026, when an overloaded canoe carrying 52 passengers, mostly farmers and traders returning from market activities, capsized along the Yobe River in Garbi town, Nguru Local Government Area. The vessel was travelling from Adiyani in neighbouring Jigawa State.