Benue: Many Missing as Boat Carrying over 70 Mourners Capsizes
More than 70 mourners and over 30 motorcycles were aboard when the wooden boat overturned, and rescuers have recovered over 60 passengers, officials said.
- On Saturday, October 3, 2026, a wooden boat carrying mourners capsized at the Buruku River crossing in Benue State, with the vessel ferrying passengers from Gboko overturning around 11am.
- According to Buruku Local Government Area Chairman Raymond Zege, the boat was overloaded with more than 70 people and 35 motorcycles; strong currents reportedly swept it into an abandoned barge.
- Following the capsizing, authorities confirmed six people died, while rescuers recovered more than 60 survivors and search operations continue for seven missing passengers.
- Benue State Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy Denis Ter Iyaghigba confirmed preliminary investigations are underway, stating, "No effort will be spared to ensure their safety," while directing boat operators to assist.
- State safety measures introduced in January face ongoing compliance challenges, as officials noted passengers often resist mandatory life jacket enforcement due to health concerns or reluctance to share used equipment.
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Nigeria: Benue Boat Mishap - 5 Bodies Recovered, 6 Still Missing
At least five dead bodies have been recovered while six still remain missing after the Saturday's boat mishap at the Buruku crossing point of River Benue in Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State.
Benue: Many missing as boat carrying over 70 mourners capsizes
Several people are feared missing after a wooden boat carrying more than 70 mourners and over 30 motorcycles overturned while crossing the River Katsina-Ala in Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State. The incident reportedly occurred around 11am on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at the Buruku river crossing point. The passengers, most of whom were said […] Benue: Many missing as boat carrying over 70 mourners capsizes
7 missing as boat capsizes in Benue
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. A maritime worker at the crossing point, who spoke to our correspondent on the t…
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