Kogi boat accident claims 35 lives on River Niger, with many still missing as rescue operations intensify

Kogi boat accident has claimed at least 35 lives, with dozens still missing after a vessel capsized on the River Niger in Ibaji Local Government Area.

Also read: Kogi Boat Mishap Kills 20 in Tragic River Accident

The state’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Timothy Ojomah, confirmed on Wednesday that 15 more corpses had been recovered, bringing the official toll to 35. He added that nearly 20 passengers remain unaccounted for.

“As of this morning, 15 corpses were recovered, whilst almost 20 persons are yet to be accounted for. Between 80 and 82 persons were in the boat, and 46 were rescued immediately,” Ojomah stated.

The boat, reportedly overloaded with residents and traders travelling for the October 1 celebrations, set off from Onugwa community en route to Ilushi market before capsizing.

Local farmer James Otoga told reporters that some passengers were also returning from a burial. “The boat was fully loaded with our people going to market for the celebration. Many who attended the burial in Onugwa are still missing,” he said.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) gave a separate account, confirming 24 rescued passengers, 14 corpses recovered, and 42 still missing.

It said the tragedy occurred around 5:40 p.m. on 30 September, adding that community divers were assisting official teams.

Rescue efforts involve NEMA, the Kogi State Emergency Management Agency, Civil Defence Corps, Red Cross, and other local responders. NEMA’s Director-General, Zubaida Umar, has deployed personnel to the site, while senior officials visited Onugwa’s traditional ruler, Chief Patrick Arome, to console the community.

President Bola Tinubu, in a condolence message, described the incident as “shocking and unfortunate.” He urged strict compliance with safety rules, including use of life jackets and limits on passenger numbers.

Also read: Niger State boat safety crackdown after fatal mishap

The tragedy highlights the recurring dangers of unsafe water transport in Nigeria, where overcrowding and lack of safety gear remain persistent problems.