Esther Igomu
A heartbreaking incident occurred on River Benue, claiming the lives of 20 individuals, mostly women and children, when a wooden boat capsized near Ocholonya in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State. The victims, traders returning to Odenyi in Nasarawa State after attending the Ocholonya market, met their demise on Saturday night.
According to eyewitnesses, the boat was severely overloaded, and despite warnings from locals, passengers refused to disembark due to their eagerness to return home. The canoe, carrying traders across the river, collided with a tree midway through the journey, resulting in the tragic accident.
The Chairman of Agatu LGA, Melvin James, confirmed the incident, starting that conflicting reports suggested 20 people had died, with locals recovering corpses. However, James emphasized the need to establish contact with divers to confirm the actual number of bodies recovered.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Catherine Anene, also confirmed the tragedy, noting that 20 bodies had been recovered from the river, while 11 people had been rescued alive stating that Rescue operations are still ongoing..
The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, with efforts underway to console the affected families. The Nigerian Navy commander in the LGA has been contacted to assist in the rescue operation.