River Niger Wahala For Kogi: NEMA Talk Say Dem Rescue 24, 14 Don Kpeme, 42 Still Dey Miss

Di National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) don confirm say 24 passengers don survive, dem recover 14 dead bodies, and 42 people still dey miss after one boat accident wey happen for River Niger inside Ibaji Local Government Area, Kogi State. Di agency report say di accident happen around 5:40 p.m. for Tuesday, 30 September 2025, when one boat wey carry about 80 passengers capsized as e dey waka from Onugwa community go Olushi village. “As dem receive di report, di Director General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, sharp-sharp activate di Agency Abuja Operations Office, and direct dia people go di scene to join di local rescue work wey dem dey do,” NEMA talk for one statement wey dem post for X on Thursday. “Di Search and Rescue (SAR) operation start quick quick, and dem rescue 24 passengers alive. Unfortunately, 14 dead body dem don find so far, but 42 people still dey missing as dem still dey try find dem and bring dem back.” Di agency talk strong say di rescue work never finish, and dem dey work hand in hand with plenty people, including Kogi State Emergency Management Agency, Local Emergency Management Committee for Ibaji, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, National Inland Waterways Authority, Fire Service, Nigerian Red Cross Society, local divers, plus community people dem. “Di joint effort show how important e be for different agencies to work together when disaster happen, so dem fit respond fast,” NEMA talk.

Mr Zakari Abubakar, Head of Abuja Operations Office, still waka go see Chief Patrick Arome, traditional ruler of Onugwa community, to show sympathy to am and dia people for di tragedy. Di agency still talk say e serious make everybody follow water safety rules well, like to wear life jackets and to no carry more passenger pass wetin boat fit handle. President Bola Tinubu sef send condolence to di government and people of Kogi State. For one statement wey im Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, sign, di President talk say di thing wey happen na “shocking and unfortunate,” and e remind say di people wey die na dia for legit work waka. “Di President hail di first responders wey show for di accident area and beg di federal, state, and local emergency people make dem try harder to help di survivors and victims dem,” di statement talk. E still call on all water transport operators make dem put safety first before money, and e pray make God give comfort to di bereaved and quick healing to di injured dem. NEMA talk say community divers still dey help official teams, and dem go dey give update on di rescue work as dem get more information.