RismadarVoice Reporters
January 21, 2026
No fewer than six students returning to school were reported to have lost their lives on Monday night following a boat accident on the Buruku River in Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State.
The tragedy occurred when a wooden boat conveying passengers capsized while crossing the river.
A source told journalists on Tuesday that the boat was heavily overloaded, a factor believed to have caused the accident.
An eyewitness, a maritime worker who was present at the scene but pleaded anonymity, said passengers had earlier delayed their journey to allow political office holders returning from a church thanksgiving service in Logo to be ferried first.
According to him, the delay forced the remaining passengers, including the students – to cross the river at night.
“Nightfall caught up with the remaining passengers, and the boat eventually departed with a large number of people onboard. Midway into the journey, the boat capsized due to overloading,” he said.
He added that while most of the passengers were rescued, six students drowned.
“So far, five bodies have been recovered, while search efforts are ongoing for one missing victim,” the eyewitness stated.
Another witness corroborated the account, blaming the mishap on gross overloading, and alleging that the boat was carrying over 45 passengers, alongside vehicles.
Victims Identified:
A relative of one of the victims, Pastor Jethro Moor, said the deceased were students from Gbeji in Ukum Local Government Area, who were travelling back to Gboko to resume school.
According to him, the boat was conveying two vehicles loaded with food items in addition to more than 20 passengers.
“The weight was too much for the boat. With the ongoing bridge construction, the navigable path has become narrow, and the boat could not remain stable under such a load,” Moor said.
Officials React:
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Buruku Local Government Area, Raymond Zege Aondoakura, told journalists on Tuesday that security agencies were handling the situation and that rescue teams were still combing the river.
When asked to confirm the exact number of casualties, he said, “Once the police conclude the investigation, you can call me,” declining further comment.
Meanwhile, the Benue State Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Dennis Iyaghigba, expressed concern over the tragedy, describing it as a grim reminder of the dangers of unsafe and unregulated river transportation.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Lubem Gena, the commissioner disclosed that a full-scale investigation had been launched to determine both the immediate and remote causes of the incident, including possible violations of safety regulations.
He also extended the state government’s condolences to the families of the victims and the Buruku community.
However, the spokesperson of the Benue State Police Command, Udeme Edet, said the command was yet to receive a formal report on the incident.
Background:
The Buruku River serves as a major route linking communities in Buruku, Logo, and parts of Ukum Local Government Areas, and is frequently used as a shortcut, including access routes to Taraba State.
For decades, successive administrations dating back to the military era, have promised to construct a bridge across the river to ease movement and improve safety, but the project has remained uncompleted.
