Six students die in boat mishap in Benue

From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi

Not fewer than six students have lost their lives after an overloaded boat they were travelling in capsized on the Benue River.

Our correspondent gathered that the boat capsized at the Buruku crossing point in Buruku Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State on Sunday night when the victims were returning to school.

It was said that the students and other passengers were being ferried across the River Benue from the Logo LGA axis to Buruku when the incident occurred.

Witnesses said the wooden boat was heavily loaded with vehicles carrying full loads of goods and passengers during the night journey, causing the boat to overturn.

A maritime worker at the crossing point, who did not want to be named, said the passengers had delayed their movement to allow politicians returning from a church thanksgiving service in Logo to be ferried first.

According to him, nightfall caught up with the remaining passengers, and the boat eventually departed with a large number of people on board.

He said, “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.”

Another witness blamed the mishap on gross overloading, noting that the boat was carrying over 45 passengers alongside vehicles, saying it was too much.

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

He explained 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.

The Chairman of Buruku Local Government Area, Raymond Aondoakura, said security agencies were handling the situation and rescue teams were still combing the river for other victims.

The chairman promised that further details would be provided once the police conclude their investigations.

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.

In a statement signed 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.

He expressed the government’s condolences to the families of the victims and the Buruku community.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Benue State Command, DSP Udeme Edet, promised to get back to the reporter when she gets information on the incident.