At least six students travelling back to school are feared to have lost their lives after a passenger boat capsized on the Buruku River in Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State on Monday night.
Sources in the area told journalists on Tuesday that the wooden boat was carrying far more passengers and cargo than it could safely handle, a factor believed to have caused the accident.
An eyewitness, a maritime worker who spoke on condition of anonymity due to lack of authorisation, said the journey was delayed earlier in the day to allow politicians returning from a church thanksgiving programme in Logo to cross the river first.
According to him, passengers were initially prevented from boarding so that the governor and members of his entourage could be ferried across, forcing many travellers — including the students — to wait until nightfall before departing.
“By the time the remaining passengers were allowed to board, it was already dark. The boat eventually left with a heavy load of people,” the witness said.
He explained that the vessel overturned halfway through the journey as a result of excessive loading. While many of the passengers were rescued, six students reportedly drowned.
“Five bodies have been recovered so far, and search teams are still looking for one person who remains missing,” he added.
Another witness confirmed the account, stating that the boat was dangerously overloaded, carrying more than 45 passengers in addition to vehicles.
A family member of one of the victims, Pastor Jethro Moor, said those who died were students from Gbeji community in Ukum Local Government Area, returning to Gboko to resume school activities.
He disclosed that the boat was also transporting two vehicles loaded with food supplies, along with over 20 passengers, at the time of the incident.
“The load was simply too much for the boat to handle. The ongoing bridge construction has narrowed the waterway, making navigation more difficult,” Moor said.
The Chairman of Buruku Local Government Area, Raymond Zege Aondoakura, confirmed the incident on Tuesday, noting that security operatives and rescue teams were actively involved in response efforts.
When contacted for details on the number of casualties, Aondoakura said he would comment after police investigations were concluded.
Reacting to the tragedy, the Benue State Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Dennis Iyaghigba, described the incident as a painful reminder of the risks associated with unsafe and poorly regulated river transport.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Lubem Gena, the commissioner said an investigation had commenced to establish both the immediate and underlying causes of the accident, including possible breaches of safety guidelines.
He also conveyed the state government’s sympathy to the families of the victims and residents of Buruku.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Benue State Command, DSP Udeme Edet, said the police had not yet received an official report on the incident.
The Buruku River serves as a major crossing point for communities travelling to parts of Logo and Ukum local government areas due to the absence of a functional bridge. Over the years, several administrations have pledged to construct a bridge across the river to improve movement, including access from neighbouring Taraba State, but the project remains incomplete.
