Tragedy struck along the River Niger in Nigeria’s Kogi State earlier this week, as a heavily laden boat carrying traders and villagers capsized, leaving a community in mourning and rescue teams in a desperate race against time. The accident, which occurred at about 5:40 p.m. on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, has claimed at least 14 confirmed lives, with as many as 42 people still missing and 24 rescued alive, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). As the sun set over Ibaji Local Government Area, what began as a routine river crossing quickly turned into one of the deadliest boat mishaps in recent memory.
According to NEMA’s official statement shared on X (formerly Twitter) and reported by multiple outlets, the ill-fated vessel was carrying approximately 80 passengers—mostly traders journeying from Onugwa community to Olushi village, with many intending to reach Ilushi market in neighboring Edo State. The traders were hoping to sell food products and purchase goods for the upcoming October 1 celebration, a detail confirmed by Kogi State’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Timothy Ojomah, in an interview with Channels Television. "The traders were trying to get to Ilushi market in Edo State to sell their food products and, at the same time, buy some items for the October 1 celebration. Unfortunately, when they got to the middle of the river, the boat had issues, it broke, and about 82 occupants had to scramble for survival," Ojomah recounted.
Eyewitnesses and survivors described scenes of chaos as the boat broke apart mid-river, forcing passengers—many of whom reportedly could not swim—to fight for their lives in the swelling waters. Distress calls were sent out immediately, prompting a rapid response from NEMA, the Kogi State Emergency Management Agency, and local authorities. "Upon receiving the report, the Director General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, immediately activated the Agency’s Abuja Operations Office, directing personnel to the scene in support of ongoing local rescue efforts," NEMA said in their statement.
The rescue operation has been a massive, multi-agency effort, involving not only federal and state emergency teams but also 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. The scale of the tragedy demanded swift collaboration. "The joint effort underscores the importance of multi-agency collaboration in tackling disasters and ensuring a timely response," NEMA emphasized.
As of Thursday morning, the official figures remained grim: 24 passengers had been rescued alive, 14 bodies recovered, and 42 people were still unaccounted for. However, figures from local officials and news outlets varied, with some reports suggesting that as many as 46 people had survived and 11 corpses had been recovered by Wednesday. The Commissioner for Agriculture noted, "Out of this number, 82, about 46 survived, and they were able to rescue them. I met with some of the survivors. This morning, they will be going out to look for more corpses. As of yesterday, 11 corpses were found."
Uncertainty over the exact toll is, unfortunately, not uncommon in such disasters, as the vastness of the River Niger and the strong currents during the rainy season complicate search and rescue efforts. The rainy season, now in full swing, has swollen rivers and strengthened currents, making boat travel both more necessary and more perilous. According to The Economic Times, boat accidents in Nigeria tend to spike during this period, when waterways are often the only viable transportation route for remote communities cut off by poor road infrastructure.
President Bola Tinubu, in a statement signed by his Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the incident as "shocking and unfortunate," noting that the deceased were on legitimate missions to earn a living. The President praised the first responders and called on all levels of government to intensify rescue and support efforts: "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." He further urged water transport operators to prioritize safety over profit, praying for solace for the bereaved and a swift recovery for the injured.
The tragedy has once again thrown a harsh spotlight on the persistent dangers of water travel in Nigeria, especially in riverine regions like Kogi State. Overcrowding, poorly maintained vessels, and a widespread disregard for safety regulations—such as the mandatory use of life jackets and strict passenger limits—are recurring themes in the country’s long history of boat mishaps. As The Economic Times and other sources have observed, operators frequently overload boats and ignore safety warnings, despite repeated admonitions from authorities. A similar incident in Niger State earlier in September 2025 resulted in at least 32 deaths, underscoring the chronic nature of the problem.
NEMA and other agencies have stressed the urgent need for compliance with water safety regulations. "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," the agency stated. The call for reform is echoed by local leaders and traditional authorities. Mr. Zakari Abubakar, Head of NEMA’s Abuja Operations Office, visited Chief Patrick Arome, the traditional ruler of Onugwa community, to express condolences and encourage community involvement in ongoing rescue efforts.
Boats remain a lifeline for many rural Nigerians, providing essential access to markets, schools, and healthcare in areas where roads are either impassable or nonexistent. Yet, the very lifeline that sustains these communities can become a deadly hazard when safety is sacrificed for expediency or profit. As the search continues for the missing, the community’s grief is compounded by frustration that such tragedies remain all too frequent.
Despite the devastation, the response from local divers and community volunteers has been a source of hope. These unsung heroes, many with intimate knowledge of the river’s currents and hazards, have worked alongside official teams, risking their own lives to recover victims and search for survivors. NEMA has pledged to provide updates as more information becomes available, but for now, the community waits anxiously for news—hoping against hope for more rescues rather than more bodies.
As rescue operations continue, the calls for reform grow louder. The lessons from this tragedy are painfully clear: until safety regulations are enforced and operators held accountable, the rivers that connect Nigeria’s communities will remain as much a source of sorrow as of sustenance.
