A boat mishap at the Buruku crossing point in Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State has left at least seven passengers missing, while more than 120 people have been successfully rescued. The incident occurred around 11:00 am on Saturday as the wooden vessel was carrying passengers across the River Benue.
Authorities and local residents are actively engaged in ongoing search and rescue operations to locate the missing individuals.
A maritime worker at the crossing point, speaking anonymously via telephone, confirmed the situation: “Seven people are still missing as of 2:30pm, and efforts are currently ongoing to find them.”
Another eyewitness, Fanen, stated that the vessel was transport vehicle for many mourners and was carrying 35 motorcycles at the time. “The passengers on board the boat were mostly mourners returning from a burial ceremony,” he said.
Buruku Local Government Area Chairman, Raymond Aondoakura, attributed the accident to engine failure, overloading, strong river waves, and a lack of experience in navigating the water. Speaking with journalists via phone from Makurdi, he explained that the vessel capsized while returning from the opposite bank.
Aondoakura noted that panic among unfamiliar passengers complicated the rescue efforts: “Some of them were not conversant with the water, and they panicked while struggling to survive. Before rescuers could reach them, the boat had already sunk.”
While initial reports indicated seven missing, the chairman stated that the exact number remains to be fully verified, noting that over 70 people had been pulled to safety while about six individuals remained unaccounted for.
He also raised concerns over the failure of commuters to wear provided safety gear. “People can be very difficult. There is a law, and we have provided life jackets for every commuter crossing that route. When they come and the maritime workers try to enforce the law, some commuters complain that they have health issues or that they do not want to share life jackets. We have provided the jackets, and the state government is also supporting efforts to ensure that maritime safety regulations are enforced. Sometimes the maritime officials come for enforcement, including at night. People should cooperate with them because the safety measures are meant to protect lives,” the chairman said.
Andrew Mdama Ndahi, the Makurdi Area Manager of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), confirmed that an inquiry into the mishap has begun. “We are already investigating to ascertain what actually happened. We are waiting for the details, and I will personally visit the scene on Monday,” Ndahi said.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Benue State Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Denis Ter Iyaghigba, reported that initial findings suggest a strong water current pushed the boat into an abandoned barge along a bend in the river, causing it to flip over.
Iyaghigba stated that state resources have been mobilized and downstream boat operators and their union have been instructed to assist with the rescue mission. He urged the public and affected families to stay calm and rely on verified updates from officials, promising to share more information as the search progresses.
