Disaster on the Niger: 42 Still Missing as NEMA Confirms 24 Rescued in Kogi Boat Tragedy

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has provided an update on the devastating boat mishap that occurred on the River Niger in Kogi State, confirming that rescue efforts have brought 24 passengers to safety, but a significant number of people remain unaccounted for. This latest update follows an earlier statement from the Kogi State Government indicating a grim death toll.

Dependable NG reports that as of Thursday, a staggering 42 persons are officially listed as missing, with search and rescue operations continuing in the vast River Niger. The incident occurred on Tuesday evening when a boat, overloaded with approximately 80 passengers, capsized while traveling from the Onugwa community in Ibaji Local Government Area toward Olushi village.

The seriousness of the situation was highlighted by NEMA Director General, Zubaida Umar, who immediately activated the Abuja Operations Office to mobilize support for the localized rescue efforts. So far, search teams, including community divers and official responders from NEMA, KOSEMA (Kogi State Emergency Management Agency), NIWA, the Red Cross, Civil Defence, and the Fire Service, have recovered 14 corpses from the water.

This figure adds to the tragedy earlier conveyed by the state government. On Wednesday, the Kogi State Government had stated that at least 26 passengers had died in the accident, describing it as a “heartbreaking loss.”

Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, conveyed the Governor’s deep condolences and noted that Governor Usman Ododo has directed state agencies to provide immediate support to victims’ families and implement measures to improve safety across the state’s waterways. “The Government of Kogi State stands with the people of Ibaji LGA in this moment of grief,” the statement read.

Both NEMA and the state government have used the disaster to emphasize the critical need for strict safety compliance on the waterways. They issued a strong appeal to riverine communities, urging them to diligently avoid overloading boats and to make the mandatory use of life jackets a non-negotiable rule for all water travel, in an effort to prevent such catastrophic loss of life in the future.