Borno boat accident leaves 3 dead and 17 rescued after a canoe carrying farmers capsized due to overloading in Shani LGA

Borno boat accident in Shani Local Government Area on Monday left three farmers dead after their canoe capsized while transporting yams across River Kubo.

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According to an electronic message from the North East office of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the tragedy occurred in Kubo Ward when a boat carrying 20 farmers overturned due to overloading.

Seventeen farmers were rescued alive, while the bodies of three others were recovered.

Quoting the Chairman of Shani LGA, Abdu Labaki, NEMA confirmed that the victims were on their way to farmlands across the river when the incident happened in the early hours of August 25, 2025.

A resident, Audu Abu, who also confirmed the crash via a telephone call, said the canoe may have been carrying more than 27 people at the time of the accident.

He added that search efforts were still ongoing to confirm if additional victims were missing.

“The tragic canoe crash occurred at River Kubo in Shani Local Government Area, specifically in Kubo Ward. The canoe, which was carrying over 27 people, met with an unfortunate accident, leaving three people dead,” Abu said.

He extended condolences to the bereaved families, praying for Allah’s protection and safety for all.

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The incident comes amid heavy flooding across Borno State, which has already destroyed homes and private properties, further compounding the challenges faced by rural communities.