At least seven individuals are reportedly missing once a boat conveying passengers capsized at the Buruku crossing matter in Buruku Regional Government Area (LGA) of Benue Situation.
Witnesses said greater than 120 passengers were, yet, rescued following the incident, which occurred on Saturday at regarding 11am whereas the wooden boat was ferrying passengers across the River Benue.
A maritime unit component at the crossing concept, who spoke to our correspondent on the telephone on condition of anonymity, said investigate and rescue operations were current for the missing passengers.
“Seven persons are still missing as of 2:30pm, and efforts are now current to identify them,” he said.
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Another witness, Fanen, alleged that the ill-fated boat was conveying numerous mourners and 35 motorcycles when the incident occurred.
“The passengers on board the boat were mainly mourners returning from a burial ceremony,” he said.
The chairman of Buruku Regional Government Area, Raymond Aondoakura, still, 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 although returning from the other side of the river, alleging that it was overloaded and encountered powerful waves.
Aondoakura said some passengers, who were unfamiliar using the river, panicked and struggled in the water, making rescue efforts difficult.
“Some of them were not conversant alongside the water, and they panicked whereas struggling to persist. Now and then the maritime officials come for enforcement, including at night. There is a law, and we have provided life jackets for every commuter crossing that direction. Prior to rescuers could achieve them, the boat had already sunk,” he said.
The chairman, yet, said the specific figure of missing passengers was yet to be accepted, adding that extra than 70 humans had been rescued, whereas concerning six persons were still unaccounted for.
He expressed concern that passengers regularly fail to use life jackets although travelling on boats across the river.
“Persons can be highly difficult. When they come and the maritime workers test to enforce the law, some commuters complain that they have health issues or that they do not wish for to distribute life jackets.
“We have provided the jackets, and the declare government is additionally supporting efforts to guarantee that maritime safety regulations are enforced. Humans should cooperate using them given that the safety measures are meant to protect lives,” the chairman said.
Moreover, the Area Administrator of the Countrywide 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 name on the scene on Monday,” Ndahi said.
Meanwhile, the Benue Situation Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Denis Ter Iyaghigba, said the declare government had commenced efforts to approve the in progress rescue operation.
In a declaration issued on Saturday, Iyaghigba said preliminary reports indicated that a sturdy water up-to-date 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 support in the look for and rescue operation.
The commissioner urged members of the audience, notably families of those who might have been aboard the boat, to stay calm and await verified facts from the connected authorities.
Iyaghigba assured that greater details would be communicated as the rescue operation progressed.
