Wednesday, January 21, 2026 - At least six students reportedly returning to school have drowned after the boat they were travelling in capsized at the Buruku crossing point in Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State.
Witnesses said the incident occurred on Sunday night, January
18, 2026 while the students and other passengers were being ferried across the
River Benue at the Buruku crossing point.
The witnesses said the mishap happened while the ill-fated
boat was enroute to the Buruku side of the river from the Logo LGA axis with
passengers mainly from the Sankara axis.
A maritime worker at the crossing point, who preferred
anonymity, told Daily Trust via telephone that the passengers were many and had
travelled at night after waiting all day for politicians who attended
activities in a church in the Logo area to be ferried across the river.
“The people who travelled in the ill-fated boat waited for
long at the crossing point because they were asked to be patient for all the
heavyweight politicians who were returning from a church thanksgiving service
to be ferried first to the Buruku side for their journey back to Makurdi.
“Sadly, night caught up with them in the process, and they
were many. Midway into the journey, the boat capsized. Most of the passengers
were rescued, except for the six students who died. Five bodies have been
recovered, while one remains missing, and search parties are currently combing
the river for the victim,” the maritime worker explained.
Another witness blamed the incident on overloading, saying,
“The wooden boat was carrying passengers and vehicles across the river to
Buruku when it suddenly sank. There were over 45 people on that boat, including
vehicles. It was simply overloaded.
A relative of the victims, Pastor Jethro Moor, said the
deceased were returning to school in Gboko.
He said they were all from Gbeji in Ukum LGA and were
travelling back to school with food items packed in two vehicles, which were
also carried on the ill-fated boat.
“The accident happened because of excessive load. Two
vehicles loaded with food items and over 20 passengers were onboard the boat
when it occurred. You know a bridge construction is ongoing on the river, so
the way boat drivers now tailor their sail appears narrow, such that the weight
of the boat could not float properly on the water, which led to the accident,”
Moor narrated.
Chairman of Buruku LGA, Raymond Aondoakura, said the police
were handling the matter and rescue teams were still combing the river.
When asked how many people lost their lives in the incident,
the chairman said, “Once the police conclude their investigation, you can call
me.”
Aondoakura declined to answer further questions and hung up
the call.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy,
Dennis Iyaghigba, said he received the news with “grave concern and deep
distress,” describing it as a painful reminder of the dangers posed by unsafe
and unregulated inland water transportation.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Lubem Gena, the
commissioner extended his sympathy to the families of the victims and the
Buruku community..
“Preliminary reports indicate that the mishap occurred in the
course of routine river transportation,” he said.
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