At least six students returning to school have drowned after a boat capsized at the Buruku crossing point in Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State. Witnesses said the incident happened on Sunday night as passengers were being ferried across the River Benue from the Logo Local Government Area axis to Buruku.
A maritime worker at the crossing point said the boat was overcrowded after passengers waited for several hours to allow politicians returning from a church thanksgiving service in the Logo area to cross first. He said most passengers were rescued when the boat capsized mid-journey, but six students died. Five bodies have been recovered, while one remains missing, with search teams continuing operations on the river.
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A relative of the victims, Pastor Jethro Moor, said the students were from Gbeji in Ukum Local Government Area and were travelling back to school in Gboko with food items loaded in two vehicles also carried by the boat. The chairman of Buruku Local Government Area, Raymond Aondoakura, said the police were handling the case, while the Benue State Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Dennis Iyaghigba, said a full investigation had been launched into possible safety violations and other factors surrounding the accident.
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