A boat carrying passengers returning from a burial ceremony capsized on Saturday at the Buruku crossing point of River Benue in Benue State, Nigeria. The incident occurred at about 11am, and witnesses reported that over 120 passengers were rescued. However, 11 people were initially reported missing. The Public Relations Officer of the Tombo Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Saai Oryina, confirmed that five bodies had been recovered as of Sunday afternoon.
According to Oryina, the five recovered bodies were from the Mbayion area of Gboko Local Government Area of the state. He attributed some of the challenges associated with water transportation in the state to passengers' refusal to wear life jackets despite the risks associated with boat travel. Oryina noted that efforts were ongoing to locate the remaining missing persons. The union had no major challenge with the availability of boats, but passengers' failure to use life jackets could reduce their chances of survival in the event of a boat accident.
A relative of four victims, Nathaniel Apaa, appealed for prayers for his family over the incident. Apaa reported that two women among the four members of his family involved in the accident had been recovered, while his two younger brothers remained missing. He expressed sadness and concern, noting that he was not in Benue at the moment to witness the incident himself. Reports indicated that 11 people were still missing, and Apaa's two younger brothers were among them.
The Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) responded to the incident, with officials arriving at the scene to commence fact-finding and support the search operation. The agency's Information Officer, Terna Ager, reported that the team was waiting for a boat to convey them to the point where the incident occurred. Ager expressed concern over the rising water level at the scene, describing it as worrisome.
The Benue State government took swift action, suspending the Buruku crossing-point branch of the Nigeria Union of Maritime Workers (NUMW) following the mishap. State Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Dennis Ter Iyaghigba, ordered the immediate suspension during an on-the-spot assessment of the scene. He also ordered the suspension of the line operator and the arrest and detention of the boat skipper involved in the incident.
Iyaghigba directed strict compliance with the mandatory use of life jackets at all river crossing points across the state. He also issued a seven-day ultimatum to the owner of an abandoned barge believed to have contributed to the accident to remove it from the crossing point or risk its confiscation by the state government. The ministry activated its search and rescue operation and worked with local divers to intensify efforts to locate the missing passengers.
The search operation continued, with efforts focused on locating the remaining six missing persons. The incident highlighted the risks associated with boat travel in the state and the need for passengers to take necessary precautions. The state government's response aimed to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Key points
- Five bodies recovered, six still missing after boat mishap on River Benue.
- Benue State government suspends NUMW branch, orders arrest of boat skipper.
- Mandatory use of life jackets enforced at river crossing points.
