Boat Capsizes on River Benue, Seven Missing, 120 Rescued

On Saturday at about 11am, a wooden boat capsized on the River Benue while transporting passengers, primarily mourners returning from a burial ceremony, along with 35 motorcycles. As of 2:30pm, seven individuals were reported missing, with over 120 passengers rescued.

Raymond Aondoakura, the chairman of Buruku Local Government Area, attributed the incident to engine failure and the inexperience of the occupants in navigating the river. He noted that the boat was overloaded and encountered strong waves, leading to panic among passengers unfamiliar with the water.

Aondoakura expressed concern over the lack of life jacket usage among passengers, despite regulations requiring their use. Andrew Mdama Ndahi, the Area Manager of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), confirmed the incident and stated that preliminary investigations were underway to determine the cause.

He plans to visit the scene on Monday for further assessment.