6 students die as boat capsized in Benue River

From Attah Ede, Makurdi 

No fewer than six students have lost their lives when a boat carrying passengers capsized in Buruku river in Benue State.

 The late victims were returning to school for the second term when the boat conveying them across the river capsized in Buruku Local Government Area of the State.

Eyewitnesses told  journalists on phone on Tuesday in Makurdi that the wooden boat was heavily loaded with passengers which could be responsible for the mishap.

One of the eyewitnesses who is a maritime worker  at the scene of the incident, said that the incident happened Monday night.

According to him, the passengers had delayed their movement to allow politicians returning from a  thanksgiving service in Ugba, Logo local government area of the State who were being ferried. 

He explained that they tried to stop passengers from boarding for the governor and his entourage to first pass, the reason he said made the students cross at night.

 “Nightfall caught up with the remaining passengers, and the boat eventually departed with a large number of people onboard.

“Midway into the journey, the boat capsized due to overloading. Most of the passengers were rescued, but six students drowned. Five bodies have been recovered so far, while search efforts are ongoing for one missing victim,” he said.

Another witness who  corroborated the account, blamed  the mishap on gross overloading, noting that the boat was carrying over 45 passengers alongside vehicles.

A relative of one of the victims, Pastor Jethro Moor, said the deceased were students from Gbeji in Ukum Local Government Area who were travelling back to Gboko for school.

He said that two vehicles loaded with food items, as well as more than 20 passengers, were carried on the boat at the time of the accident.

“The weight was too much for the boat. With the ongoing bridge construction, the navigable path has become narrow, and the boat could not remain stable under such load,” Moor said.

Confirming the incident on Tuesday, Chairman of Buruku Local Government Area, Raymond Zege Aondoakura  said security agencies were handling the situation and rescue teams were still combing the river.

Aondoakura, who declined further comment on the incident said, “Once the police conclude the investigation, you can call me.”

The  Benue State Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Dennis Iyaghigba, expressed deep concern over the tragedy, describing it as a stark reminder of the dangers of unsafe and unregulated river transportation.

According to the statement by his media aide, Lubem Gena, the commissioner said a full-scale investigation had been launched to determine the immediate and remote causes of the incident, including possible violations of safety regulations.

Iyaghigba extended the government’s condolences to the families of the victims, and the Buruku community.

When contacted, the Benue State command Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, said the command was yet to receive a formal report on the incident and promised to get back to journalists.