Over 60 passengers narrowly escaped death after a passenger boat suffered mechanical failure and capsized around Buruku crossing point, leaving an unconfirmed number of commuters missing in Benue State.
As gathered, the disaster unfolded when the vessel’s engine cut out mid-river, leaving the boat helplessly at the mercy of intense currents of the
It was learnt on Saturday that attempts by the crew to regain control of the boat failed as the heavy swell battered the craft yesterday.
Confirming the incident in a telephone interview with journalists in Makurdi, the Chairman of Buruku Local Government Area, Raymond Zege, revealed that emergency responders and local operators managed to pull more than 60 survivors from the water.
However, he cautioned that the full scale of the disaster remains unknown as search teams struggle to determine the exact manifest of the overloaded boat.
“The engine developed a fault while crossing the river. The rescue operation was severely complicated by strong water waves and the sheer weight of the passengers as attempts were made to move them to safety using nearby craft.”
Zege noted that emergency crews and local divers are actively combing the riverbanks to trace missing passengers.
Addressing persistent safety hazards at the crossing, the chairman urged strict compliance with maritime safety protocols, particularly the wearing of life jackets.
“Life jackets have been provided for commuters, but some passengers continually resist wearing them, making enforcement extremely difficult for maritime officials,” Zege added.
In a separate statement issued Saturday, the Benue State Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Denis Iyaghigba, provided further details on the cause of the disaster.
Preliminary reports indicate that after the engine failed, the raging current swept the helpless boat directly into an abandoned barge anchored along a bend in the river.
The violent impact caused the vessel to tumble and capsize into the deep waters.
Iyaghigba assured the public that the state government has mobilized all available resources to locate missing survivors.
“I have directed boat operators and their union downstream to immediately mobilize and assist in the ongoing search and rescue operation.
“We urge families of possible passengers to remain calm and await verified information. No effort will be spared in this operation.”
The Guild gathered that the Buruku crossing point has long been a flashpoint for riverine accidents, with local authorities frequently calling for modern infrastructure and stricter maritime law enforcement to prevent recurrent loss of life.
Rescue operations remain ongoing as officials work to establish the final casualty figure.