Six dead, 15 rescued as Jigawa canoe accident leaves several missing

A tragic Jigawa canoe accident has claimed the lives of at least six people, while 15 others have been rescued after a canoe carrying about 40 passengers capsized in Malamawa village, Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

The incident occurred at about 4:00 p.m. on Sunday when the canoe, which was transporting passengers across a river, overturned midway through the journey. Rescue operations are still underway as emergency responders search for several passengers who remain missing.

Confirming the incident, the Jigawa State Commissioner for Special Duties, Auwal Sankara, said six bodies had so far been recovered, while 15 people were rescued alive from the water.

“We have so far recovered six bodies and rescued 15 persons alive. Search operations are still ongoing,” Sankara said.

He assured residents that the state government would continue the search operation until every passenger involved in the accident had been accounted for.

“We will continue the rescue mission until every single person is found, dead or alive,” he added.

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Officials of the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), local divers, security personnel and community volunteers have been deployed to the scene to intensify rescue efforts. Authorities said the exact number of people still missing is yet to be determined as efforts continue to verify the passenger manifest.

Eyewitnesses said the canoe was carrying approximately 40 passengers when it capsized. Preliminary accounts suggest the vessel may have been overloaded, although investigators are yet to officially determine the cause of the accident.

Authorities have urged members of the public to rely only on official updates while rescue operations continue, warning against the circulation of unverified casualty figures.

The latest boat accident in Jigawa State has once again highlighted the dangers associated with water transportation in many rural communities across Nigeria, where rivers remain a vital means of travel despite limited safety infrastructure.

Experts have repeatedly linked similar tragedies to overloading, poor maintenance of boats, failure to wear life jackets, and inadequate enforcement of inland water transport safety regulations.

The Jigawa State Government has renewed its appeal to boat operators and passengers to strictly observe safety measures, including complying with approved passenger limits, ensuring vessels are seaworthy, and making the use of life jackets compulsory before embarking on river journeys.

As the search continues, families of the missing passengers remain hopeful that more survivors will be found, while emergency officials have pledged not to end the operation until everyone aboard the ill-fated canoe has been accounted for.

Six dead, 15 rescued as Jigawa canoe accident leaves several missing

Troops arrest suspected Sudanese terrorist fighter, Ghanaian woman in Borno

Nigerian troops attached to Operation Hadin Kai have arrested a suspected Sudanese foreign terrorist fighter and a Ghanaian woman believed to be an illegal immigrant during an intelligence-led operation in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.

The military identified the Sudanese suspect as Musa Fashir, 32, describing him as a suspected foreign terrorist fighter and collaborator, while the second suspect, Mary Florence, 36, claimed to be a Ghanaian national who entered Nigeria illegally.

According to the Acting Military Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, the suspects were apprehended at about 11:48 a.m. on July 19, 2026, by troops of the 115 Task Force Battalion operating under Sector 4 during a security operation in the Lassa, Dille General Area of Askira/Uba.

The military said the operation formed part of sustained intelligence-driven counter-terrorism operations aimed at dismantling insurgent networks and preventing the infiltration of foreign fighters into Nigeria’s North-East.

Captain Goni disclosed that preliminary intelligence suggests that Musa Fashir has established links with terrorist elements operating in the region, raising fresh concerns about the involvement of foreign nationals in supporting insurgent activities.

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He added that security agencies are investigating the suspect’s movements, contacts and possible role within terrorist networks to determine the extent of his involvement.

The second suspect, Mary Florence, told investigators that she is an illegal immigrant from the Republic of Ghana. However, military authorities said the circumstances surrounding her presence in the operational area, as well as the authenticity of her claims, remain under investigation.

Both suspects are currently in military custody, where they are undergoing detailed profiling and interrogation to establish their true identities, determine the scope of their activities and ascertain whether they have links to terrorist organisations or transnational criminal networks.

The latest arrests come amid heightened military operations across Borno State, where troops have intensified efforts to disrupt terrorist logistics, financing and recruitment networks. In recent weeks, Operation Hadin Kai has also repelled multiple attacks by suspected ISWAP fighters, rescued kidnapped civilians, intercepted logistics suppliers and recorded fresh surrenders by insurgents and their family members as security forces continue to sustain pressure on terrorist groups across the North-East. (Channels Television)

Earlier this month, the military also revealed preliminary intelligence indicating the presence of foreign terrorist facilitators within ISWAP’s structure, including foreign nationals believed to be providing training, medical support and operational expertise to the insurgent group. Security experts say such developments underscore the growing transnational dimension of terrorism in the Lake Chad region. (Premium Times Nigeria)

Captain Goni said the successful operation demonstrates the effectiveness of intelligence-led military operations and the vigilance of troops in denying terrorists and their collaborators freedom of movement.

He reaffirmed that Operation Hadin Kai remains committed to neutralising terrorists, dismantling their logistics and support networks, preventing the infiltration of foreign fighters and restoring lasting peace across the North-East.

The military also appealed to residents to continue supporting security agencies by providing timely and credible intelligence, stressing that public cooperation remains critical to defeating insurgency and strengthening national security. (Channels Television)

Troops arrest suspected Sudanese terrorist fighter, Ghanaian woman in Borno

Boko Haram Abducts Pastor’s Wife, Three Children in Borno

Suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists have abducted the wife of a pastor and her three children along the Maiduguri-Damasak highway in Borno State, in an attack that community sources say specifically targeted the family because of their Christian faith.

The abduction occurred around noon on Saturday near Kareto village in Mobbar Local Government Area, approximately 156 kilometres from Maiduguri, the state capital. The victims, whose identities have been withheld, were travelling in a commercial vehicle to Damasak, where the head of the family, Pastor Moses Guguma, serves as the resident pastor of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN). Community sources told journalists that the attackers intercepted the commercial vehicle close to Kareto village and singled out the pastor’s wife and her three children, ordering them to disembark. The gunmen allowed the driver and the remaining passengers to continue their journey before retreating into the bush with the captives. According to a source close to the Guguma family, the victims were deliberately targeted because of their religious identity.

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The pastor’s wife, whose identity has been withheld, had reportedly only recently been discharged from a hospital in Maiduguri after a prolonged illness and was still recuperating at the time of the abduction. The source further disclosed that she had been receiving treatment for some time before being discharged, making the timing of the abduction particularly distressing for the family. “As of now, we are holding a special prayer to God for the safe return of the victims,” a family source said, expressing the community’s collective anxiety and hope for the family’s safe return.

As of the time of filing this report, the whereabouts of the woman and her children remained unknown. Security agencies had yet to issue an official statement on the incident, while there was also no indication that the abductors had made any contact or presented any demands. The lack of communication from the terrorists has left the family and the church community in a state of anxious waiting, uncertain about the fate of the captives.

Damasak, located in Borno North Senatorial District, has repeatedly witnessed attacks linked to insurgent groups and remains a frequent flashpoint for Boko Haram and ISWAP activities in the Lake Chad Basin region. The town has been a target of several attacks in recent years, with insurgents frequently launching assaults on military formations and civilian communities. The latest incident highlights the persistent security challenges along major roads in northern Borno, where insurgents have continued to target commuters despite ongoing military operations in the region. This abduction also underscores the vulnerability of religious leaders and their families who continue to serve in communities deeply affected by the insurgency. It is the latest in a series of attacks targeting Christian communities in northeast Nigeria, adding to the growing concerns about the safety of worshippers and religious institutions in the region.

Boko Haram Abducts Pastor’s Wife, Three Children in Borno State