A minimum of six college students reportedly returning to high school have drowned after the boat they have been travelling in capsized on the Buruku crossing level in Buruku Native Authorities Space of Benue State.
Witnesses mentioned the incident occurred on Sunday night time whereas the scholars and different passengers have been being ferried throughout the River Benue on the Buruku crossing level.
The witnesses mentioned the mishap occurred whereas the ill-fated boat was enroute to the Buruku facet of the river from the Brand LGA axis with passengers primarily from the Sankara axis.
A maritime employee on the crossing level, who most well-liked anonymity, defined that the passengers have been many and had travelled at night time after ready all day for politicians who attended actions in a church within the Brand space to be ferried throughout the river.
“The individuals who travelled within the ill-fated boat waited for lengthy on the crossing level as a result of they have been requested to be affected person for all of the heavyweight politicians who have been coming back from a church thanksgiving service to be ferried first to the Buruku facet for his or her journey again to Makurdi.
“Sadly, night time caught up with them within the course of, and so they have been many. Halfway into the journey, the boat capsized. Many of the passengers have been rescued, apart from the six college students who died. 5 our bodies have been recovered, whereas one stays lacking, and search events are at present combing the river for the sufferer,” the maritime employee defined.
One other witness blamed the incident on overloading, saying, “The picket boat was carrying passengers and autos throughout the river to Buruku when it abruptly sank. There have been over 45 individuals on that boat, together with autos. It was merely overloaded.”
A relative of the victims, Pastor Jethro Moor, mentioned the deceased have been returning to high school in Gboko.
He mentioned they have been all from Gbeji in Ukum LGA and have been travelling again to high school with meals gadgets packed in two autos, which have been additionally carried on the ill-fated boat.
“The accident occurred due to extreme load. Two autos loaded with meals gadgets and over 20 passengers have been onboard the boat when it occurred. You already know a bridge building is ongoing on the river, so the best way boat drivers now tailor their sail seems slim, such that the load of the boat couldn’t float correctly on the water, which led to the accident,” Moor narrated.
Chairman of Buruku LGA, Raymond Aondoakura, mentioned the police have been dealing with the matter and rescue groups have been nonetheless combing the river.
When requested how many individuals misplaced their lives within the incident, the chairman mentioned, “As soon as the police conclude their investigation, you possibly can name me.”
In the meantime, the Commissioner for Marine and Blue Financial system, Dennis Iyaghigba, mentioned he acquired the information with “grave concern and deep misery,” describing it as a painful reminder of the risks posed by unsafe and unregulated inland water transportation.
In an announcement issued by his media aide, Lubem Gena, the commissioner prolonged his sympathy to the households of the victims and the Buruku group.
“Preliminary experiences point out that the mishap occurred in the middle of routine river transportation,” he mentioned.
Iyaghigba disclosed {that a} full-scale investigation has been launched to find out each the speedy and distant causes of the accident, together with doable violations of security rules, operational negligence or environmental elements.
Police Public Relations Officer of the Benue State Command, Udeme Edet, mentioned that she was but to obtain a report of the incident.