Benue boat mishap: Five bodies recovered, six still missing
Five bodies have been recovered and six remain missing following a boat accident on Saturday at the Buriku crossing of the River Benue in Benue State.
The wooden vessel was transporting passengers returning from a burial ceremony when it capsized in the morning. More than 120 individuals were rescued after the incident, while 11 passengers were initially reported missing.
Saai Oryina, spokesman for the Tombo Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, confirmed on Sunday that the five deceased were from the Mbayion area of Gboko Local Government Area. Oryina noted that rescuers initially believed seven people were unaccounted for, but the number was later updated to 11. The search for the remaining individuals is ongoing.
He attributed part of the challenges faced in water transportation within the state to a lack of compliance with safety measures, particularly the refusal of some passengers to wear life jackets, despite the inherent risks of boat travel.
