At least six students returning to school were yesterday reportedly died at the River Buruku crossing point in Buruku local government area of Benue State after a boat conveying them capsized.
The incident occurred on Sunday night as the victims and other passengers were being ferried across the River from Logo Local Government Area to Buruku.
Reports said the ill-fated wooden boat was heavily loaded with passengers and vehicles before embarking on the night journey.
A maritime worker at the crossing point, told New Telegraph pleading anonymity, that the passengers had delayed their movement to allow politicians returning from a church thanksgiving service in Logo to be ferried first.
According to him, night caught up with the remaining passengers, and the boat eventually departed with a large number of people onboard.
The source 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”, he exclaimed.
Another witness who corroborated the earlier account, blamed the mishap on overloading, stressing that the boat was carrying over 45 passengers including vehicles.
A relative of the victims, Pastor Jethro Moor, said the deceased were students from Gbeji in Ukum Local Government area who were travelling back to Gboko to resume school after the holiday.
He explained that two vehicles were loaded with food items, and more than 20 passengers, were carried on the boat at the time of the accident.
The Chairman of Buruku Local Government Area, Raymond Zege Aondoakura, confirmed the incident.
He said security agencies were on top of the situation and rescue teams were still combing the river, adding that investigation was still in progress.
Meanwhile, 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 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 extended the government’s condolences to the families of the victims and the Buruku community.
ENDS.
