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Ayomide Awe
More than 70 passengers have been rescued while about six others remain missing following a boat accident at the Buruku crossing on the Benue River in Benue State.
The accident occurred around 11am on Saturday when the boat, which was reportedly carrying passengers from Gboko Local Government Area to attend a burial ceremony across the river, ran into trouble and eventually capsized.
PLATFORM TIMES reported that the boat was carrying a large number of passengers when its engine reportedly failed, sparking panic among the occupants.
Buruku Local Government Area Chairman Raymond Zege confirmed the incident, saying the situation became critical when passengers panicked and struggled inside the boat.
Zege explained that efforts were made to deploy other boats to rescue people on board the distressed vessel, but the weight of the boat and strong waves complicated the operation.
He said: “Yes, there were people from Gboko LG. They went to get buried on the other side. During the journey, they overloaded a boat, but the problem was that the engine of the boat had broken down.
“Most of them are unfamiliar with the shore, so they panicked and had difficulty moving. So, before they could get them to the boats they were taking to rescue them, due to the weight and waves of the water, the boat sank.”
The prime minister said rescuers have so far saved more than 70 passengers but have failed to save six others.
“As I speak to you, we do not know the exact number of people still missing. We have rescued more than 70 people and have not seen about six people,” he added.
Meanwhile, Benue State Commissioner for Maritime and Blue Economy, Denis Iyaghigba, has confirmed that government has received preliminary reports on the incident and directed to intensify rescue efforts.
In a statement released in Makurdi, Iyaghigba urged relatives of passengers who may have been on board the ship to remain calm while authorities work to establish the actual number of people involved.
According to him, preliminary information indicated that a strong water current had dragged the passenger vessel into an abandoned barge positioned at the corner of the river, causing it to capsize.
He said he had ordered maritime operators and their downstream union to mobilize and join the search and rescue operations.
“I have instructed shipping operators and their downstream union to mobilize and assist in the ongoing search and rescue operations. Further details will be communicated as the rescue operation progresses,” the commissioner said.
Conflicting preliminary reports about the cause of the accident – engine failure and overloading according to the Buruku council chairman, and a strong current pushing the boat onto an abandoned barge according to the maritime commissioner – could not immediately be reconciled.
Zege also expressed concern about what he described as resistance by some river commuters to marine safety rules, particularly the use of life jackets.
He said the government had provided life jackets to commuters using the route, but that some passengers would resist wearing them.
“There is a law and we have provided life jackets to every commuter who crosses that road,” he said.
According to him, some commuters complain of sharing life jackets for fear of contracting diseases, despite efforts by maritime officials to enforce safety regulations.
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