Benue Boat Accident: One Dead, Eight Missing as Mourners’ Boat Capsizes

Benue Boat Accident: One Dead, Eight Missing as Mourners’ Boat Capsizes

At least one person has died and eight others are missing after a boat carrying mourners capsized on the Buruku River in Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State.

The incident occurred around 11am on Saturday, October 3, as the mourners were returning from a burial ceremony across the river.

The passengers were reportedly travelling on a wooden boat that was also carrying several motorcycles when the vessel developed an engine fault close to the riverbank.

The situation reportedly became chaotic as the boat began taking in water before eventually capsizing. Strong waves were said to have compounded the difficulty faced by the passengers.

The Buruku Local Government Area chairman, Raymond Zege, said the boat was carrying more than 70 passengers and over 30 motorcycles when the accident occurred.

He said a rescue operation was launched after the incident, with several passengers pulled from the river.

The Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) later confirmed that one person had died, eight remained missing and three others were receiving medical treatment.

The agency said other passengers had been rescued, while search operations continued for those still unaccounted for.

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The exact number of people aboard the boat remains unclear, as initial reports put the number at about 70, while other accounts gave different figures.

The Benue State Government has since directed relevant agencies and boat operators to intensify efforts to locate the missing passengers and support the rescue operation.

The Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Denis Iyaghigba, appealed for calm and urged boat operators and their unions to participate actively in the search-and-rescue efforts.

The incident has renewed concerns about waterway safety in Benue, particularly the risks associated with overloading, inadequate enforcement of safety regulations and the use of boats without sufficient safety equipment.

Zege said the local government had provided life jackets for people using the waterway but acknowledged challenges in ensuring that passengers consistently use them.

Authorities have urged residents who use the river crossing to comply with safety regulations and avoid overloading boats.

Meanwhile, families of the missing passengers remain anxious as rescue teams and local boat operators continue the search along the Buruku River.

The latest Benue boat accident has also raised fresh concerns about safety measures for communities that depend on waterways for transportation, particularly during periods when river conditions become difficult to navigate.

Benue Boat Accident: One Dead, Eight Missing as Mourners’ Boat Capsizes