The number of people who died in Saturday’s boat accident on the Buruku River in Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State has now climbed to four, among them a Catholic priest known as Rev. Fr. Moses Tsuagh.
On Sunday, the Benue State Emergency Management Agency reported that nine other passengers remained unaccounted for.
Tema Ager, the Information Officer of SEMA, released these figures while providing an update at the scene of the incident.
Ager had informed our correspondent on Saturday that over 200 people were aboard the ill-fated vessel, including 138 members of the Okada riders’ association and other passengers who boarded the boat at the waterside.
He said, “There were 32 Okada riders (motorcyclists) on board with their motorcycles, and each rider carried three people, meaning that one motorcycle was carrying four persons, including the rider.
“If you look at that, it gives us about 138. Aside from this figure, there were other mourners who also joined the riders in the boat, while other people waiting at the waterside also joined them. So, what one of the victims who is a rider said was that about 200 passengers were on board.”
Speaking at the scene on Sunday, Ager stated that four bodies had so far been recovered, while nine people remained missing.
He said, “I can speak to you now on behalf of the government because I am right at the scene of the incident in Buruku.
“The update I have now is four dead bodies recovered, among them is Rev. Fr. Moses Tsuagh, and the missing persons are nine, while the total number of motorcycles in the water is 38.
“Though the number of motorcycles belonging to Okada riders is 32, later, some other boats that crossed had six of their motorcycles sink in the water.”
Reports indicate that the victims were on their way back from a burial ceremony in Buruku and were believed to hail from the neighboring Gboko Local Government Area.
In the meantime, the state government has suspended the Buruku crossing-point branch of the Nigeria Union of Maritime Workers.
The Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Dennis Iyaghigba, made the suspension known while carrying out an on-the-spot assessment of the scene.
Iyaghigba further ordered the suspension of the line operator and directed that the boat skipper linked to the incident be arrested and detained.
