More than 60 passengers have been rescued after a boat accident at the Buruku crossing point in Benue State.
The incident occurred at about midnight on Friday when the boat’s engine reportedly developed a fault while it was carrying passengers across the river, according to the Chairman of Buruku Local Government Area, Raymond Zege.
Mr Zege said on Saturday that passengers struggled to keep the boat under control after the engine failure, while other boat operators joined efforts to rescue those on board.
He said the rescue operation was made difficult by strong waves and the number of passengers being moved to safety. He added that authorities were yet to determine whether anyone remained missing, as the exact number of people aboard the boat had not been established.
The chairman said rescue operations were still ongoing, with additional boat operators mobilised to support the search.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Denis Iyaghigba, said the state government had also activated measures to assist with the rescue operation.
Mr Iyaghigba said preliminary information showed that a strong current pushed the passenger boat into an abandoned barge at a bend in the river, causing it to overturn.
He urged residents, especially relatives of people who may have been on the boat, to remain calm and rely on verified information from the authorities.
The commissioner said he had instructed boat operators and their downstream union to join the search and rescue efforts, adding that further updates would be provided as more information became available.
Mr Zege also appealed to passengers to comply with maritime safety regulations, particularly the use of life jackets.
He said life jackets were available for commuters but some passengers often refused to wear them, making enforcement difficult for officials.