AT least seven people are reportedly missing after a boat conveying passengers capsized at the Buruku crossing point in Buruku Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State.
Witnesses said more than 120 passengers were, however, rescued following the incident, which occurred on Saturday at about 11am while the wooden boat was ferrying passengers across the River Benue.
News Point Nigeria reports that search and rescue operations were ongoing as authorities and local residents worked to locate those still unaccounted for.
A maritime worker at the crossing point, who spoke to our correspondent on the telephone on condition of anonymity, said search and rescue operations were ongoing for the missing passengers.
“Seven people are still missing as of 2:30pm, and efforts are currently ongoing to find them,” he said.
Another witness, Fanen, alleged that the ill-fated boat was conveying many mourners and 35 motorcycles when the incident occurred.
“The passengers on board the boat were mostly mourners returning from a burial ceremony,” he said.
The chairman of Buruku Local Government Area, Raymond Aondoakura, however, attributed the mishap to engine failure and the occupants’ inexperience in navigating the river safely.
He told journalists in Makurdi on the telephone that the boat capsized while returning from the other side of the river, alleging that it was overloaded and encountered strong waves.
Aondoakura said some passengers, who were unfamiliar with the river, panicked and struggled in the water, making rescue efforts difficult.
“Some of them were not conversant with the water, and they panicked while struggling to survive. Before rescuers could reach them, the boat had already sunk,” he said.
The chairman, however, said the exact number of missing passengers was yet to be established, adding that more than 70 people had been rescued, while about six persons were still unaccounted for.
He expressed concern that passengers often fail to use life jackets while travelling on boats across the river.
“People can be very difficult. There is a law, and we have provided life jackets for every commuter crossing that route. When they come and the maritime workers try to enforce the law, some commuters complain that they have health issues or that they do not want to share life jackets.
“We have provided the jackets, and the state government is also supporting efforts to ensure that maritime safety regulations are enforced. Sometimes the maritime officials come for enforcement, including at night. People should cooperate with them because the safety measures are meant to protect lives,” the chairman said.
Also, the Area Manager of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Makurdi, Andrew Mdama Ndahi, confirmed the incident, saying the agency had commenced preliminary investigations to establish what happened.
“We are already investigating to ascertain what actually happened. We are waiting for the details, and I will personally visit the scene on Monday,” Ndahi said.
Meanwhile, the Benue State Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Denis Ter Iyaghigba, said the state government had commenced efforts to support the ongoing rescue operation.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Iyaghigba said preliminary reports indicated that a strong water current swept the boat into an abandoned barge at a corner of the river, causing it to overturn.
He said he had directed boat operators and their union downstream to mobilise and assist in the search and rescue operation.
The commissioner urged members of the public, particularly families of those who might have been aboard the boat, to remain calm and await verified information from the relevant authorities.
Iyaghigba assured that further details would be communicated as the rescue operation progressed.