A tragic incident occurred on Saturday, October 3, 2026, when a wooden boat conveying over 70 mourners capsized at a crossing point on River Katsina-Ala in Buruku Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue state. The vessel, which was also carrying over 30 motorcycles, overturned at about 11am while conveying passengers back from a burial ceremony on the other side of the river. The mourners were predominantly from Mbayon community in Gboko LGA.
According to the Chairman of Buruku LGA, Raymond Zege, the boat developed an engine fault midway through the return journey, causing panic among passengers before it encountered a heavy wave and capsized. Zege confirmed that the vessel was carrying more than 70 people when the incident occurred. The situation deteriorated before a rescue boat could reach the passengers.
An eyewitness attributed the mishap to overloading, saying the vessel was carrying a large number of passengers alongside more than 30 motorcycles. The witness said several people had been rescued but the exact number of those still missing remained uncertain as search efforts continued. Rescue operations are ongoing to locate those still missing.
Providing an update, Zege said more than 60 passengers had been rescued, while about six people had yet to be accounted for at the time of his statement. He, however, stressed that the figure was not final, as rescue workers were still searching the river. The council chairman urged residents and other commuters using the waterway to comply with maritime safety regulations.
Zege appealed to waterway users to cooperate with safety personnel, noting that the regulations were designed to protect lives. He explained that some commuters reportedly objected to wearing shared life jackets or claimed they had health concerns. The local government had provided life jackets for commuters at the crossing point, but some passengers often resisted efforts by maritime officials to enforce their use.
Meanwhile, the Benue state Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Denis Iyaghigba, confirmed the accident in a statement issued on Saturday. Iyaghigba directed boat operators and their union to mobilise and support the ongoing search and rescue operation. He assured the public that authorities would continue efforts to rescue anyone who might still be trapped or missing.
As of the time of filing this report, rescue efforts were still ongoing, while authorities had yet to establish the final number of passengers aboard the boat and those still missing. The incident has renewed attention on compliance with safety measures along the waterway, particularly the need to prevent overloading and ensure passengers use life jackets during crossings.
Key points
- Over 60 passengers have been rescued, while several others remain unaccounted for.
- The incident occurred due to engine failure and a heavy wave, which caused the boat to capsize.
- Authorities have urged commuters to comply with maritime safety regulations, particularly the use of life jackets.
