Six die, eight missing in Benue boat mishap

Six people have died after a boat capsized in a river near Fada village in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.

Spokesperson of the State Police Command, SP Catherine Anene, who confirmed the incident on Thursday, September 22, said the boat conveying 40 passengers from Guma LGA to the Buruku council for business activities capsized at 1:00pm on Tuesday.

The PPRO said 26 people have been rescued while a search is on for the remaining eight people.

“On 20/9/2022 at 1300hrs a boat conveying forty person’s from Guma LGA to Buruku LGA for business capsized in the river around Fada village, Guma LGA,” she stated.

‘Combined efforts of the police and fishermen in the area lead to the rescue of twenty-six (26) persons who were taken to hospital for treatment, six (6) corpses have been recovered while a search for the remaining eight (8) persons is ongoing,”

The spokesperson conveyed the condolence message of the Command, CP. Wale Abass with the families and friends of the dead.

The statement advised travellers who choose water transport to employ maximum safety measures while travelling on the water especially now that the volume of water is very high.

Meanwhile, Miss Rita Msen Sharigba, who was among the victims of the boat mishap was laid to rest on Thursday, September 22.