At least 11 people, including a pregnant woman and six children, have lost their lives after a boat capsized in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State.
The tragic incident occurred on Saturday evening between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. as passengers were crossing a river from Wadata to Daududawada community during a heavy rainstorm accompanied by strong winds.
According to local vigilante commander Nura Umar, the victims were residents of Daududawada, an island settlement located behind the Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering (NASME) Barracks in Makurdi's North Bank area.
The passengers had travelled to Wadata to attend the burial of a woman from their community who died after receiving treatment at a private hospital. After the funeral, they boarded a boat to return home, opting for the shorter river route instead of travelling by road.
Umar explained that severe weather conditions struck while the boat was midway through its journey, causing it to overturn. More than 40 people were reportedly on board at the time of the accident.
"So far, four bodies have been recovered and buried, while search efforts continue for seven others believed to be missing," he said.
He also recounted the heartbreaking story of a woman who survived the accident but lost her baby. The child, who had been strapped to her back, slipped away during the struggle to stay afloat and later died after swallowing large amounts of water.
Rescue operations remained ongoing as divers and local volunteers searched for the missing victims. The tragedy has left the Daududawada community in mourning.
Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the Benue State Police Command were unsuccessful, as police spokesperson DSP Udeme Edet did not respond to calls or text messages before the report was filed.
.jpeg)
.jpeg "Sunayen kofofin aljanna guda takwas 8")
0 Comment about the Post: