Benue boat disaster death toll reaches four as nine remain missing

The death toll from Saturday’s boat accident on the Buruku River in Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State has risen to four, according to the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA). Nine people remain missing. SEMA Information Officer Tema Ager gave the update on Sunday during a telephone interview and at the scene of the accident.

He identified one of the dead as Rev. Fr. Moses Tsuagh.

Ager said more than 200 people had been aboard the boat when it capsized. The passengers reportedly included members of an Okada riders’ association, other passengers picked up at the waterside and mourners returning from a burial ceremony in neighbouring Gboko Local Government Area. He said 32 motorcycles belonging to the riders were in the water.

A further six motorcycles reportedly sank from other boats that crossed the river, bringing the total number of motorcycles under water to 38. The agency had earlier reported that 138 people connected to the riders’ association were aboard. Ager explained that each of 32 riders had carried three passengers in addition to the rider, while other people joined the boat at the waterside.

The state government has suspended the Buruku crossing-point branch of the Nigeria Union of Maritime. Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy Dennis Iyaghigba ordered the suspension during an on-the-spot assessment. Iyaghigba also directed that the line operator be suspended and that the boat skipper be arrested and detained.

The supplied report did not give further details about the search operation or the cause of the accident.