Benue: Many missing as boat carrying over 70 mourners capsizes

Several radical are feared missing aft a woody vessel carrying much than 70 mourners and implicit 30 motorcycles overturned portion crossing the River Katsina-Ala successful Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State.

The incidental reportedly occurred astir 11am on Saturday, October 3, 2026, astatine the Buruku stream crossing point.

The passengers, astir of whom were said to beryllium from Mbayon successful Gboko Local Government Area, were returning aft attending the burial of a comparative connected the other broadside of the stream erstwhile the vessel capsized.

Several occupants were reportedly rescued from the water, portion hunt and rescue unit continued efforts to find those who remained unaccounted for as of Saturday afternoon.

An eyewitness said the woody vessel was severely overloaded with passengers and motorcycles earlier its motor reportedly developed a responsibility during the journey.

According to the eyewitness, “The vessel was overloaded with galore radical and implicit 30 motorcycles, and they were coming from the Logo LGA broadside of the River astatine astir 11am erstwhile the incidental happened.

“Many persons person been rescued, but arsenic we speak, I cannot archer you the existent fig of persons that person not been seen oregon rescued from the stream due to the fact that the hunt is inactive ongoing. But galore persons person not been seen arsenic we speak.”

The Chairman of Buruku Local Government Area, Raymond Zege, confirmed the mishap, ex...