18 Dead, 60 Injured In Flooding, Boat Mishap — NEMA

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed that 18 people have died and over 60 have been injured in a boat mishap in Niger State and flooding in Yola, the capital of Adamawa State.

The agency disclosed the information on Monday via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, as emergency response teams continue rescue and recovery operations across the affected states.

The Minna Operations Office of NEMA said it received a situation report from the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) detailing a fatal boat accident that occurred on Saturday, July 26, 2025, around 11:45 a.m.

According to the report, the ill-fated boat was conveying 39 passengers and 50 bags of rice from Shattai in Guni Ward, Munya Local Government Area, en route to Kwatan Zumba Market in Shiroro Local Government Area when it capsized mid-journey.

Of the 39 passengers, 25 survivors and the boat driver were rescued, while one person remains hospitalised at the General Hospital in Kuta.

However, 13 passengers, including 8 women, 3 men, and 2 children, were confirmed dead.

Out of the deceased, 8 bodies have been recovered and buried, while 5 persons are still missing.

NEMA noted that its team is working in close coordination with NSEMA, local authorities, and community volunteers to continue search and rescue operations in the area.

“This is a heartbreaking incident, and we are deploying every available resource to ensure that the missing are found and survivors get the support they need,” the agency stated.

In a separate event, NEMA confirmed on Sunday that five people were killed and at least 55 injured following severe flooding in parts of Yola town, Adamawa State, after a heavy downpour.

The agency’s Head of Operations in Yola, Ladan Ayuba, said the torrential rain, which began in the early hours of Sunday, submerged homes, displaced dozens of families, and caused destruction in several wards across the state capital.

He said communities severely impacted include Tashan Sani, Shagari Phase II, Sabon Pegi, Anguwan Tabo, Modire, Ummare, Yolde-Pate, Sanda Fadama II, and Ibnu Abbas.

Emergency response teams comprising NEMA, the Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the Red Cross, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) are currently engaged in rescue operations, using boats to evacuate trapped residents.

Victims have been relocated to emergency camps and primary schools, with medical care ongoing at the Modibbo Adama Teaching Hospital in Yola.

Residents have called for urgent government intervention.

Ali Adam, a resident of Yolde-Pate, thanked emergency officials for their swift response but noted that his community had never experienced flooding on such a scale.

He also blamed the incident on a mining company allegedly operating in the area and urged the government to investigate.

In Modire, another flood-hit community, Yakubu Musa appealed to the state government to upgrade a key culvert into a bridge to better manage future water surges.

In response to the disaster, Adamawa State Deputy Governor, Professor Kaletapwa Farauta, visited affected communities in Shagari and Yolde-Pate, confirming two deaths in those areas alone and pledged swift relief.

Farauta said, “We woke up to a devastating flood this morning,” she told journalists at the Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital. We have confirmed two deaths, many are injured, and several people have lost virtually everything. The government will ensure the victims receive food, clothing, and medical care without delay.”

She also ordered the immediate deployment of temporary shelters and essential relief materials to victims across Yola South Local Government Area.

NEMA has assured the public that it will continue to monitor both situations closely while mobilizing further assistance to support recovery efforts.

“As we mourn the lives lost, we remain committed to preventing further tragedy and helping affected communities rebuild,” the agency said.