At least six students returning to school were reported to have drowned in the Buruku River in the Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State.
Chronicle NG discovered that the incident occurred when the vessel they were on overturned Monday evening.
On Tuesday, a local source informed reporters that the wooden vessel was overloaded with people, which could result in it capsizing.
An eyewitness, a maritime worker present at the location but who requested anonymity, stated that the passengers postponed their departure to permit politicians coming back from a church thanksgiving service in Logo to be transported first.
He stated that they attempted to prevent passengers from boarding to allow the governor and his group to go ahead, a reason he claimed caused the students to cross at night.
He said, “Nightfall caught up with the remaining passengers, and the boat eventually departed with a large number of people onboard.
“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 said.
Another witness, who confirmed the story, attributed the incident to severe overloading, highlighting that the vessel was transporting more than 45 passengers in addition to vehicles.
A family member of one of the victims, Pastor Jethro Moor, stated that the victims were students from Gbeji in the Ukum Local Government Area who were returning to Gboko for their studies.
He stated that the boat was transporting two vehicles filled with food products and over 20 passengers when the incident occurred.
“The weight was too much for the boat. With the ongoing bridge construction, the navigable path has become narrow, and the boat could not remain stable under such a load,” Moor said.
Chairman of Buruku Local Government Area, Raymond Zege Aondoakura, confirmed the event to journalists on Tuesday, stating that security agencies were addressing the situation and rescue teams were continuing to search the river.
When inquired about the number of casualties from the incident, Aondoakura replied, “You can call me once the police finish their investigation,” and opted not to provide additional remarks.
Concurrently, the Benue State Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Dennis Iyaghigba, voiced significant worry regarding the incident, calling it a clear reminder of the risks associated with unsafe and unregulated river transport.
In a statement from his media aide, Lubem Gena, the commissioner announced that a comprehensive investigation has been initiated to ascertain both the immediate and underlying causes of the incident, as well as potential breaches of safety regulations.
He conveyed the government’s sympathies to the families of the victims and the Buruku community.
Udeme Edet, the spokesperson for the state police command, stated that the command has not yet received an official report regarding the incident.
The Buruku River is among the rivers in the state where boats are required to navigate to other local government areas, including Logo and certain regions of Ukum LGA, because of its shortcut.
Different governments, starting from the military rule, have pledged to build a bridge over the river to facilitate the movement of individuals, including those from Taraba State.
