Kogi mourns as boat accident death toll climbs to 26

By: Sunday Ameh

The Kogi State Government has expressed grief over the tragic boat mishap on the River Niger that has so far claimed 26 lives.

The victims, mostly traders from Ibaji Local Government Area, were travelling to Ilushi Market in neighbouring Edo State when the vessel capsized on Tuesday evening.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo, described the incident as “unfortunate” and said Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo had commiserated with the families of the deceased.

“Reports indicate that the unfortunate incident has claimed the lives of not less than 26 passengers. This is a heartbreaking loss, and our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased, as well as the entire Ibaji Local Government Area, during this moment of grief,” Fanwo said.

He noted that the governor had directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to work with local authorities to provide immediate relief to survivors and the bereaved families.

Fanwo added that the state would intensify collaboration with federal agencies to improve safety standards on waterways to avert similar tragedies.

An eyewitness, James Otoga, said the boat, which was fully loaded, had left Onugwa community but capsized before reaching Ilushi.

“Only five survivors have been rescued, and 20 bodies have been recovered so far. Even those returning from a burial in Onugwa went missing. We are yet to confirm the total number of passengers,” he told journalists.

The Chairman of Ibaji LGA, Ugeh Emmanuel, described the accident as the most disastrous in the history of the area.

“As I speak with you now, nobody can authoritatively state the actual number of casualties. The boat had not even reached Ilushi when it capsized around 4:30pm. Most of the victims were travelling for the First of October celebration,” he said.

The tragedy has once again drawn attention to frequent boat mishaps in Kogi and other riverine states. In December 2024, a similar incident claimed 19 lives in Lokoja LGA.

Authorities have repeatedly urged passengers to wear life jackets and avoid overloading, while the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) continues to prosecute operators who flout safety regulations.