At least 20 people feared dead in Kogi boat accident as vessel capsizes in Ibaji. Survivors recount horror while rescue teams search River Niger for missing.
A dark tragedy struck Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi State on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, when a Kogi boat accident claimed at least 20 lives along the River Niger.
The incident has thrown the riverine communities into mourning, with many families still searching for missing loved ones.
The wooden boat, which departed from Onugwa in Ibaji, was heading to Ilushi market in Edo State when disaster struck.
Witnesses said the vessel capsized midway between Okpu and Odumomo settlements, plunging dozens of passengers into the river.
So far, local divers have recovered 20 bodies, while six people have been rescued alive. The true number of passengers remains uncertain since no manifest was recorded.
Most passengers on the ill-fated boat were women and children. Many had set out early for Ilushi market to purchase foodstuffs and clothing in preparation for Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day celebration scheduled for Wednesday.
A community leader, Joseph Umonu from Onyedega, recounted the devastation: “The boat left Onugwa for Ilushi but capsized shortly after at Okpu and Odumomo. Most of those on board were women and children. One family alone lost eight people. Only six survivors have been confirmed so far.”
What should have been a day of trade and preparation has instead turned into grief for families waiting at the riverside for news of their relatives.
Beyond traders, the Ibaji boat mishap also claimed those who had attended a burial ceremony in Onugwa earlier that day.
Reports say none of the mourners who boarded the boat for their return journey have been accounted for among survivors or recovered bodies.
Community resident Michael Unwuchola explained: “The families of those who attended the burial are crying bitterly. They boarded the same boat, but none have been found alive or dead. Divers are still combing the river for more bodies.”
The Kogi State Police Command confirmed the accident through its spokesperson, SP William Aya.
“The victims were said to be going to Ilushi market in Edo State when the accident occurred. Our operatives are verifying whether the mishap happened within Kogi waters or on the Edo State side of the River Niger,” Aya said.
He noted that the lack of a passenger manifest has made it difficult to establish the exact number of casualties.
The River Niger tragedy has left Ibaji in shock. Families of the victims have camped by the riverbank, anxiously watching rescue efforts.
Local divers, fishermen, and security operatives continue to search, though hope of finding more survivors fades as hours pass.
For many households, the grief is unbearable. One family reportedly lost eight members, leaving the entire community in sorrow. Survivors, mostly rescued by fishermen, described the chaos of struggling in the waves as the boat went under.
This is not the first time Ibaji and other riverine communities in Kogi have been struck by boat disasters.
Overcrowding, poor enforcement of safety regulations, lack of life jackets, and the use of dilapidated boats remain common problems.
Community leaders say the Kogi boat accident should serve as a wake-up call for authorities to address the dangers of rural water transport.
They have urged the government to provide safer ferries, distribute life jackets, and deploy regular patrols along busy waterways.
Water transport is the lifeline of Ibaji, a flood-prone area where roads are few. Yet, residents lament that this lifeline too often becomes a death trap.
As the nation marks its 65th Independence Day, Ibaji is in mourning. Instead of joining in celebrations, families are digging graves and preparing burials for their loved ones.
For them, the sound of drums and fireworks is drowned out by the cries of grief and the silence of empty homes.
The Kogi boat accident has once again exposed the fragility of rural transportation in Nigeria, where lives are lost too often to preventable tragedies.
For Ibaji, and for the families of the dead, this Independence Day will forever be remembered not with joy, but with sorrow.
About The Author
