Four Dead, Nine Missing in Benue Boat Accident

The death toll from Saturday’s boat accident 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 remained missing as search and rescue efforts continued.

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

Ager had earlier said more than 200 people may have been on board the boat when the incident occurred.

He explained that 32 Okada riders were travelling with their motorcycles, with each rider carrying three additional passengers.

“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,” he said.

Ager said the 32 riders and their passengers accounted for about 138 people, while other mourners and passengers who joined the boat at the waterside brought the estimated number of people on board to about 200.

Four bodies recovered

Giving an update on Sunday, Ager said four bodies had been recovered, including that of Rev. Fr. Moses Tsuagh.

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

“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.

Government suspends crossing-point operations

Following the accident, the Benue State Government 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 accident scene.

Iyaghigba also ordered the suspension of the line operator and directed security agencies to arrest and detain the boat skipper involved in the incident.

Search and rescue operations are expected to continue as authorities work to locate the nine passengers still reported missing.