Six mourners are reportedly missing after a boat carrying more 70 people capsized on the Buruku River in Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State on Saturday.
The incident reportedly occurred around 11am as the mourners, who were from neighbouring Gboko Local Government Area, were returning from a burial ceremony.
The Chairman of Buruku Local Government Area, Raymond Zege, confirmed the incident, saying the boat’s engine reportedly developed a fault while it was on the river.
According to him, the occupants struggled to manoeuvre the boat and remain afloat before another boat arrived to rescue them.
He said the boat was overloaded and the occupants reportedly panicked as they encountered water waves, causing the vessel to sink.
Zege said, “There are over 70 people on board but we have not seen about six persons.”
The chairman also expressed concern over compliance with safety measures among commuters using the river crossing, noting that authorities had provided life jackets but enforcement had been difficult because some passengers complained that wearing them was uncomfortable.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Denis Iyaghigba, said preliminary reports indicated that a strong water current swept the boat into an abandoned barge at a corner of the river, causing it to overturn.
Iyaghigba urged families and members of the public to remain calm while authorities continued efforts to establish the facts and locate those still missing.
He said he had directed boat operators and their union downstream to mobilise and support the ongoing search and rescue operation.
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