Eleven Feared Dead in Benue Boat Capsizing Incident

On Saturday night, a tragic boat accident in Benue State resulted in the feared deaths of eleven individuals, including a pregnant woman and six children. The incident occurred while the victims were returning from a burial ceremony, with the boat capsizing in the River Benue around 7 PM to 8 PM due to heavy rain and strong winds.

Local sources identified a man named Daniel, who reported the incident, stating that the boat was carrying 40 passengers at the time of the mishap. Nura Umar, a local vigilante group commander, confirmed the incident and mentioned that four bodies had been recovered, while divers continue to search for the remaining victims.

The deceased woman was taken to a private hospital in North Bank on Saturday morning. The Makurdi Local Government Chairman, Joseph Keffi, could not be reached for comments.

This incident follows a pledge by the state government six months prior to enforce safety measures to address frequent boat accidents in the region.