Six Confirmed Dead as Boat Capsizes on Benue River; Many Still Missing
Six Confirmed Dead as Boat Capsizes on Benue River; Many Still Missing
At least six people, mainly students returning to school, have been confirmed dead following a boat accident at Buruku crossing in Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State. Many others remain missing after the wooden boat capsized late on Monday night while crossing the river.
Sources in the area reported that the tragedy occurred around 11 p.m., as the boat was en route to Buruku from the opposite bank. The vessel, reportedly overloaded with passengers and vehicles, capsized midway into the journey.
An eyewitness attributed the incident to overloading, describing it as preventable. “The boat is a wooden one, carrying passengers and cars across the river to Buruku when it suddenly sank. There were over 45 persons on board, including vehicles. It was simply overloaded,” he said.
While about 35 passengers were rescued, six fatalities, mostly students heading back to schools in Gboko and nearby communities, have been confirmed. Several others are still unaccounted for. The eyewitness lamented, “This is very unfortunate. This tragedy could have been avoided,” and criticized the recurring negligence on waterways.
He added, “Every year, we experience similar tragedies. Authorities often issue statements promising to prevent such incidents, but nothing substantial is done to improve waterway safety.”
Reacting to the incident, Benue State’s Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Denis Iyaghigba, expressed grave concern and deep distress. In a statement through his media aide, Lubem Gena, the commissioner extended condolences to the victims’ families and the Buruku community.
“Preliminary reports suggest the mishap occurred during routine river transportation,” he said. Iyaghigba announced that a comprehensive investigation has been launched to determine the causes of the accident.
He warned that reckless behavior and disregard for safety standards would no longer be tolerated, promising stronger enforcement measures. These include vessel inspections, operator licensing, passenger safety education, and increased monitoring of river transport activities across the state.
Attempts to reach the Chairman of Buruku Local Government, Mr. Raymond Zege, were unsuccessful at press time. Similarly, the Police Public Relations Officer, Udeme Edet, had yet to respond to inquiries.
