Kogi boat tragedy: Death toll rises to 35, dozens still missing

The official death toll from last week’s boat accident in Kogi State’s Ibaji Local Government Area has risen to 35, with nearly 20 people still unaccounted for.

According to the Kogi State Commissioner for Agriculture, Timothy Ojomah, 15 additional corpses were recovered on Wednesday.

He stated that the boat was carrying between 80 and 82 passengers. While 46 were initially rescued, the recovery of bodies has increased the confirmed fatalities.

The boat, which was reportedly overloaded, capsized on the River Niger.

It was transporting traders and residents traveling for October 1st celebrations from the Onugwa community to Ilushi market.

A local farmer also noted that many victims were returning from a burial ceremony in Onugwa.

Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) provided a separate update, reporting that 24 passengers have been rescued, 14 corpses recovered, and 42 people remain missing.

NEMA confirmed the accident occurred on the evening of September 30.

Rescue operations, involving community divers and multiple agencies, are ongoing.

NEMA’s Director-General has deployed personnel to assist and officials have met with community leaders.

In response to the tragedy, President Bola Tinubu expressed his condolences, describing the event as “shocking and unfortunate.”

He urged water transport operators to prioritize safety over profit, echoing NEMA’s call for strict compliance with safety rules, including the use of life jackets and adherence to passenger limits.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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