Benue boat crash: Four dead, nine missing

Image showing a capsized boat. For representational purposes.Credit: iStock via deccanherald.com

The death toll from Saturday’s boat mishap on the Buruku River in Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State has risen to four, including a Catholic priest identified as Rev. Fr. Moses Tsuagh.

The Benue State Emergency Management Agency said on Sunday that nine other passengers were still missing.

The Information Officer of SEMA, Tema Ager, disclosed the figures while giving an update at the scene of the incident.

Ager had told our correspondent on Saturday that more than 200 people, including 138 members of the Okada riders’ association and other passengers who joined the boat at the waterside, were on board the ill-fated vessel.

He said, “There were 32 Okada riders (motorcyclists) on board with their motorcycles, and each rider carried three people, meaning that one motorcycle was carrying four persons, including the rider.

“If you look at that, it gives us about 138. Aside from this figure, there were other mourners who also joined the riders in the boat, while other people waiting at the waterside also joined them. So, what one of the victims who is a rider said was that about 200 passengers were on board.”

Speaking at the scene on Sunday, Ager said four bodies had so far been recovered, while nine people remained missing.

He said, “I can speak to you now on behalf of the government because I am right at the scene of the incident in Buruku.

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“The update I have now is four dead bodies recovered, among them is Rev. Fr. Moses Tsuagh, and the missing persons are nine, while the total number of motorcycles in the water is 38.

“Though the number of motorcycles belonging to Okada riders is 32, later, some other boats that crossed had six of their motorcycles sink in the water.”

The victims were reportedly returning from a burial ceremony in Buruku and were said to be from neighbouring Gboko Local Government Area.

Meanwhile, the state government has suspended the Buruku crossing-point branch of the Nigeria Union of Maritime Workers.

The Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Dennis Iyaghigba, announced the suspension during an on-the-spot assessment of the scene.

Iyaghigba also directed the suspension of the line operator and ordered the arrest and detention of the boat skipper involved in the incident.