Tragedy struck at Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State on Monday night as no fewer than six persons, mainly students returning to school, were confirmed dead following a boat mishap at the popular Buruku crossing
Reports also indicated that many others are still missing after the wooden boat conveying passengers across the river bank capsized late in the night.
Competent sources in the area said the tragedy occurred at about 11pm, while the ill-fated boat was en route Buruku end of the river. The Buruku crossing is a major, often hazardous, transportation point located in the local government, where commuters, vehicles, and goods are ferried across the River Katsina-Ala (a tributary of the River Benue)
According to the sources, the boat was carrying passengers and vehicles when it capsized midway into the journey and the cause of the accident is yet unknown.
An eyewitness, who blamed the incident on overloading, described the situation as avoidable, saying: “The boat, as you know, is a wooden one, and it was carrying passengers and cars across the river to Buruku when it suddenly sank. There were over 45 persons on that boat, including vehicles. It was simply overloaded.
“While about 35 passengers were rescued, six deaths, mostly students, have so far been confirmed, with others still unaccounted for. Most of the victims were students returning to schools in Gboko and nearby communities. This is very unfortunate. This tragedy could have been avoided.”
Decrying what he described as repeated negligence on the waterways, the source said: “Every year, we record this kind of tragedy. Authorities will issue statements assuring that it won’t happen again, but nothing concrete is done to ensure the safety of waterway users.”
Meanwhile, the Benue State Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Denis Iyaghigba, while reacting to the incident, said the sad news was received with “grave concern and deep distress,” describing it as a painful reminder of the dangers associated with unsafe and unregulated inland water transport.
The Commissioner, in a statement issued by his media aide, Lubem Gena, extended his sympathy to the families of the victims and the Buruku community, noting, “Preliminary reports indicate that the mishap occurred in the course of routine river transportation”.
Iyaghigba, who disclosed that a full-scale investigation has been launched to determine both the immediate and remote causes of the accident, warned that recklessness and disregard for safety standards would no longer be tolerated among the boats’ operators.
This is as he assured that enforcement measures would be strengthened, which include regular vessel inspections, operator licensing, passenger safety education, and closer monitoring of river transport activities across the state.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Buruku LGA, Mr. Raymond Zege was yet to comment on the unfortunate incident as of press time, even as the Public Relations Officer of the Police Command in Benue, Udeme Edet, promised to respond to inquiries after receiving an official brief on the mishap.
