Tragedy: the father loses five children in Benue

The tragedy hit the local government of Agatu in the state of Benue on Sunday evening when a father lost five of his six children in an accident with the boat while returning from the farm.

According to local sources, the accident occurred near the Obagaji community when the canoe transmitted man and his children turned upside down halfway.

It was said that the family would return home after collecting the cassava when the overloaded boat sank.

Of the seven people on board – the Father and his six children – only the man and a son survived.

A resident identified as Ameh said that divers and local volunteers immediately launched a rescue operation, but five of the children had already drowned.

“The entire community is in mourning; it is one of the saddest accidents we have witnessed,” he said.

Confirming the tragedy, the president of the local government area of ​​Agatu, Melvin James, described the accident as a heartbreaking.

He said that preliminary relationships indicated that the canoe was overloaded, which probably made it turn over.

James noticed that the mother of the children, who did not join the trip, was devastated after receiving the news. He extended the condolences to the family in mourning and urged the residents to join the safety guidelines when they travel to the water.

Boat accidents have become frequent in Benue’s river communities, in particular in Agatu, Logo and Buruku Lgas.

Only in 2024 were several fatal accidents recorded, including one in the logo in which 14 mourning drowned and another in Agatu who claimed the life of 20 traders.

Despite repeated tragedies, residents say that many ferries and local canoes still work without rescue jackets or a correct supervision of safety.

At the time of the press, the state police command has not yet issued an official declaration, while the leaders of the community continue to appeal to the more separate regulation of water transport to prevent further losses of lives.

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