No fewer than 24 passengers were rescued, 14 bodies recovered, and 42 people remain missing following a boat accident on the River Niger in Ibaji Local Government Area, Kogi State, the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has disclosed.
In a post on X on Thursday, NEMA explained that the boat was carrying 80 passengers traveling from Onugwa community to Olushi village in Ibaji LGA when the incident happened on Tuesday.
Boat accidents are increasingly becoming a challenge in Nigeria, particularly in riverine states where waterways serve as key transport routes.
Incidents involving overcrowded vessels, poorly maintained boats, and insufficient adherence to safety regulations over the years have claimed hundreds of lives, while property worth colossal amounts of money has been destroyed.
According to reports, NEMA explained that the incident happened at about 5:40 p.m. on Tuesday, 30th September 2025, when a boat carrying about 80 passengers capsized while en route to Olushi village after departing from Onugwa community in Ibaji LGA.
The Director General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, stated that upon receiving the report of the incident, she immediately activated the Agency’s Abuja Operations Office, directing it to deploy personnel to the scene of the tragedy in support of ongoing local rescue efforts.
She added, “The deployment underscores NEMA’s resolve to provide timely intervention and strengthen coordination with state and community responders.”
The report said that Search and Rescue (SAR) operations commenced swiftly, leading to the rescue of 24 passengers alive. Sadly, 14 corpses have so far been recovered, while 42 persons remain missing as efforts to locate and recover them continue.
It noted that community divers are actively assisting official rescue teams, and the operation is ongoing with updates to follow, saying that the rescue efforts are being coordinated with the active participation of multiple agencies and stakeholders, including the Kogi State Emergency Management Agency; the Local Emergency Management Committee, Ibaji; the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps; the National Inland Waterways Authority; the Fire Service; the Nigerian Red Cross Society; local divers; and community members.
It said that the joint effort underscores the importance of multi-agency collaboration in tackling disasters and ensuring a timely response.
The report observed that the NEMA response team, led by the Head of Abuja Operations Office, Mr. Zakari Abubakar, has also visited the traditional ruler of Onugwa community, Chief Patrick Arome, and commiserated with him and the people over the tragic incident.
It explained that the tragedy further highlights the urgent need for strict compliance with water safety regulations, including the use of life jackets and enforcement of passenger limits on boats.
While earlier reports had put the death toll at 26, the latest report from NEMA confirmed that 24 passengers were rescued, 14 bodies recovered, and 42 people remain missing following the boat accident.
Kogi boat mishap: 24 passengers rescued, 14 bodies recovered, 42 others missing