According to the National Emergency Management Agency, a Kogi boat crash 24 rescued, 14 killed, 42 missing – NEMA disaster on the River Niger in Ibaji Local Government Area, Kogi State, resulted in the rescue of 24 passengers, the recovery of 14 dead, and the disappearance of 42 individuals.
A boat transporting over 80 persons from Onugwa community to Olushi village in Ibaji LGA was engaged in the incident on Tuesday, according to a post made by NEMA on X on Thursday.
In Nigeria, especially in riverine areas where waterways are important transportation routes, boat accidents are a frequent and severe problem.
Hundreds of people have died as a result of accidents involving overloaded ships, badly maintained boats, and inadequate attention to safety standards throughout the years.
“A boat carrying approximately 80 passengers capsized while en route to Olushi village after departing from Onugwa community in Ibaji LGA at approximately 5:40 p.m. on Tuesday, September 30, 2025,” NEMA said.
“The Agency’s Abuja Operations Office was promptly activated by NEMA Director General Mrs. Zubaida Umar upon receiving the information, instructing it to send personnel to the site of the tragedy to assist with ongoing local rescue operations. NEMA’s determination to offer prompt assistance and improve cooperation with state and community responders is shown by this deployment.
24 individuals were saved alive as a result of the prompt start of search and rescue (SAR) efforts. Regretfully, 42 people are still unaccounted for despite ongoing attempts to find and retrieve them, while 14 dead have been found thus far.
It said that official rescue teams are receiving active assistance from community divers and that the operation is still underway, with updates to come.
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 are among the agencies and stakeholders actively participating in the rescue efforts, the agency emphasized.
“The coordinated effort emphasizes how crucial multi-agency cooperation is to disaster relief and prompt reaction.
“The NEMA reaction team, under the direction of Mr. Zakari Abubakar, Head of Abuja Operations Office, has also paid a visit to Chief Patrick Arome, the traditional leader of the Onugwa village, and expressed their condolences to him and the people for the unfortunate event.
“The incident emphasizes the critical need for rigorous adherence to water safety rules, such as life jacket use and boat passenger limits,” it said.
The most recent report from NEMA verified that 24 passengers were rescued, 14 dead were discovered, and 42 people are still missing after the boat tragedy, however previous reports had placed the death toll at 26.
President Bola Tinubu, meantime, expressed his sympathies to the Kogi State administration and citizens for the tragic event.
According to the National Emergency Management Agency, a boat disaster on the River Niger in Ibaji Local Government Area, Kogi State, resulted in the rescue of 24 passengers, the recovery of 14 dead, and the disappearance of 42 individuals.
In an X post on Thursday, NEMA said that the incident happened on Tuesday and that it involved a boat that was transporting around 80 people from Onugwa community to Olushi village in Ibaji LGA.
Hundreds of people have died as a result of accidents involving overloaded ships, badly maintained boats, and inadequate attention to safety standards throughout the years.
“A boat carrying approximately 80 passengers capsized while en route to Olushi village after departing from Onugwa community in Ibaji LGA at approximately 5:40 p.m. on Tuesday, September 30, 2025,” NEMA said.
“The Agency’s Abuja Operations Office was promptly activated by NEMA Director General Mrs. Zubaida Umar upon receiving the information, instructing it to send personnel to the site of the tragedy to assist with ongoing local rescue operations. NEMA’s determination to offer prompt assistance and improve cooperation with state and community responders is shown by this deployment.
24 individuals were saved alive as a result of the prompt start of search and rescue (SAR) efforts. Regretfully, 42 people are still unaccounted for despite ongoing attempts to find and retrieve them, while 14 dead have been found thus far.
It said that official rescue teams are receiving active assistance from community divers and that the operation is still underway, with updates to come.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the National Inland Waterways Authority, the Fire Service, the Nigerian Red Cross Society, local divers, community members, the Kogi State Emergency Management Agency, the Local Emergency Management Committee, Ibaji, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps are all actively participating in the rescue efforts, the agency stressed.
“The coordinated effort emphasizes how crucial multi-agency cooperation is to disaster relief and prompt reaction.
“The NEMA reaction team, under the direction of Mr. Zakari Abubakar, Head of Abuja Operations Office, has also paid a visit to Chief Patrick Arome, the traditional leader of the Onugwa village, and expressed their condolences to him and the people for the unfortunate event.
“The incident emphasizes the critical need for rigorous adherence to water safety rules, such as life jacket use and boat passenger limits,” it said.
The most recent report from NEMA verified that 24 passengers were rescued, 14 dead were discovered, and 42 people are still missing after the boat tragedy, however previous reports had placed the death toll at 26.
President Bola Tinubu, meantime, expressed his sympathies to the Kogi State administration and citizens for the tragic event.
The President called the tragedy “shocking and unfortunate,” adding that the dead were on valid missions to make a livelihood, in a statement released on Wednesday and signed by Bayo Onanuga, his advisor on information and strategy.
It said, in part, “The President commends the first responders at the accident scene and urges federal, state, and local emergency responders to step up their efforts to provide needed assistance to survivors and victims.”
In addition, he prayed for comfort for the deceased and quick healing for the wounded, and he urged water transport companies to put safety before profit.
The President called the tragedy “shocking and unfortunate,” adding that the dead were on valid missions to make a livelihood. The statement was released on Wednesday and signed by Bayo Onanuga, his advisor on information and strategy.
