At least four people have been confirmed dead and more than nine others remain missing following a boat mishap on River Katsina-Ala at the Buruku crossing point in Benue State. The Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA) said 125 passengers have so far been rescued, while divers and local rescue teams continue searching for those still unaccounted for.
Key Highlights
- Four people have died in the Benue boat mishap, according to BSEMA.
- 125 passengers have been rescued from the incident.
- More than nine people remain missing as the search continues.
- Authorities estimate that about 138 people may have been aboard the boat, although the exact number is still being verified.
- The wooden boat was reportedly carrying 38 motorcycles when the incident occurred.
- Five motorcycles have been recovered, while 33 remain at the scene.
- Divers and local rescue teams have been deployed to search for missing passengers.
- The incident occurred on October 3, 2026, at the Buruku crossing point.
- BSEMA has urged river users to wear life jackets and observe water-safety measures.
Benue Boat Mishap Leaves Four Dead
The Head of the Information Unit of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency, Terna Ager, disclosed the latest figures during an interaction with journalists in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
Ager said the casualty figures remained provisional because authorities were still reconciling information from survivors, relatives and other people connected to the affected community.
He said an estimated 138 people were believed to have been involved in the incident, although the actual number of passengers who boarded the boat had not yet been conclusively established.
125 Passengers Rescued, More Than Nine Missing
According to BSEMA, 125 passengers have been rescued since the accident occurred.
However, more than nine people remain unaccounted for, prompting authorities to intensify search-and-rescue operations along the affected section of River Katsina-Ala.
Ager said officials were gathering information from survivors, relatives of victims, community leaders and members of the relevant transport association to establish the identities and status of everyone believed to have been aboard the boat.
He explained that some of the figures being used by authorities came from people at the scene, while passengers who joined the boat from different points along the river had yet to be fully identified.
38 Motorcycles Were Also on the Boat
The ill-fated boat was reportedly transporting 38 motorcycles in addition to passengers.
BSEMA said each motorcycle was reportedly associated with about three passengers, further complicating efforts to establish the total number of people who were aboard the vessel.
Five motorcycles have so far been recovered from the river, while 33 motorcycles remain at the affected location.
Divers are continuing efforts to recover the submerged motorcycles and other belongings that could assist the rescue operation and investigation.
Divers Search for Missing Passengers
Ager said professional divers had been deployed alongside local rescue teams to search the river for missing persons.
The operation has been complicated by difficult conditions in the affected part of the river, as well as the presence of submerged motorcycles and other materials.
Authorities are working with community members and other stakeholders to identify areas where passengers could have been trapped or swept away by the river.
BSEMA said the search would continue until the status of all persons believed to have been aboard the boat is established.
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Authorities Still Reconciling Passenger Figures
The emergency agency stressed that the current figures should be regarded as provisional.
The estimated 138 people believed to have been involved in the incident has not yet been confirmed as the final passenger count.
Authorities are therefore relying on information from survivors, relatives, community leaders and others at the Buruku crossing point to establish an accurate record.
The final casualty figure could change as the identification and recovery operations continue.
Boat Mishap Occurred on October 3
The Benue boat mishap occurred on October 3 when a wooden boat carrying passengers and motorcycles reportedly developed difficulties while crossing River Katsina-Ala at the Buruku crossing point.
The incident triggered an immediate response involving local residents, government officials, emergency personnel and divers.
Rescue efforts have since been intensified as authorities work to locate those still missing and recover property from the river.
BSEMA Urges River Users to Wear Life Jackets
Following the incident, BSEMA urged passengers and other river users to take water-safety precautions seriously.
Ager specifically advised passengers to wear life jackets when travelling by boat and to comply with safety instructions issued by boat operators and relevant authorities.
He said life jackets had previously been provided to river users but that some passengers often ignored the safety measure and boarded boats without wearing them.
He urged passengers using the Buruku crossing point and other waterways across Benue State to make safety a priority in order to prevent avoidable loss of lives.
Search and Recovery Operation Continues
The rescue operation remains ongoing, with government agencies, divers and local residents working together to locate the missing passengers.
BSEMA said authorities would continue gathering information and conducting search operations until they establish the status of everyone believed to have been aboard the boat.
Further updates are expected as the search, recovery and investigation continue.
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