By Obinna Uballa
Six students have died following a boat accident on the Buruku River in Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State on Monday night.
The wooden boat, which was reportedly overloaded, capsized midway through the journey, claiming the lives of the students who were returning to school.
A maritime worker who witnessed the incident said the passengers delayed their trip to allow politicians returning from a church thanksgiving service in Logo to be ferried first. The delay forced the students and other commuters to travel at night, increasing the risk of disaster.
“Nightfall caught up with the remaining passengers and the boat departed with a large number of people onboard,” the witness said. “Midway into the journey, the boat capsized due to overloading. Most of the passengers were rescued, but six students drowned.”
Another eyewitness blamed the accident on gross overloading, adding that the boat carried over 45 passengers alongside vehicles.
Pastor Jethro Moor, a relative of one of the victims, confirmed that the deceased were students from Gbeji in Ukum Local Government Area, travelling back to Gboko for school. He said two vehicles loaded with food items were also on board, alongside more than 20 passengers.
“The weight was too much for the boat. With the ongoing bridge construction, the navigable path has become narrow, and the boat could not remain stable under such load,” Moor said.
The chairman of Buruku Local Government Area, Raymond Zege Aondoakura, confirmed the incident and said security agencies were handling the situation, with rescue teams continuing to comb the river.
Benue State Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Dennis Iyaghigba, described the tragedy as a stark reminder of the dangers of unsafe and unregulated river transport. He said a full-scale investigation had been launched to determine the immediate and remote causes of the accident, including possible violations of safety regulations.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Lubem Gena, Iyaghigba extended condolences to the families of the victims and the Buruku community.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Benue State Command, DSP Udeme Edet, said the command had not yet received a formal report of the incident.
