Rescue efforts are ongoing in Benue after a boat capsized at the Buruku crossing, with more than 60 passengers rescued and others unaccounted for.
More than 60 passengers have been rescued following a boat mishap at the Buruku crossing point in Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State, with search operations continuing for people who may still be missing.
The Chairman of Buruku Local Government Area, Raymond Zege, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with journalists in Makurdi on Saturday.
Zege said the wooden boat developed an engine fault while carrying passengers across the river, leaving those on board struggling to control the vessel.
He said other boats were mobilised to assist in the rescue operation, but strong water waves and the weight of passengers being transferred to safety complicated the exercise.
According to reports from the scene, the boat was carrying more than 70 mourners and over 30 motorcycles when it capsized at the Buruku crossing on the River Katsina-Ala. The passengers were reportedly returning from a burial ceremony on the opposite side of the river.
Zege said the exact number of passengers who might still be missing had yet to be established, as rescue personnel were still working to determine the total number of people aboard the boat.
He appealed to residents and other users of the waterway to comply with maritime safety regulations, particularly the use of life jackets.
The council chairman said life jackets had been provided for commuters at the crossing but noted that some passengers sometimes resisted wearing them, making enforcement difficult for maritime officials.
He urged passengers to cooperate with safety officials during enforcement operations, stressing that the measures were intended to protect lives.
Meanwhile, the Benue State Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Denis Iyaghigba, confirmed that the state government had commenced efforts to coordinate the search and rescue operation.
Iyaghigba said preliminary information indicated that a strong water current swept the passenger boat into an abandoned barge at a bend in the river, causing the vessel to overturn.
The commissioner appealed to members of the public, particularly families of people who may have been aboard the boat, to remain calm and await verified information from the authorities.
He assured the public that efforts were being made to account for everyone involved and directed boat operators and their union downstream to mobilise and support the ongoing rescue operation.
As of Saturday, authorities had not released a final figure for the number of people aboard the boat or those still unaccounted for. Reports also differed on the precise number of people rescued, with the local government chairman initially putting the figure at more than 60.
The Buruku crossing has previously recorded fatal boat accidents. A January 2026 report documented another deadly mishap at the crossing involving passengers travelling on the waterway, highlighting continuing concerns over safety at the route.
Rescue operations were still ongoing as authorities worked to establish the full circumstances of the latest incident and account for all passengers involved.
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