A pregnant woman and ten others including six children, were feared dead when a boat conveying them from a burial ceremony capsized on River Benue in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State.
Penpushing reports that a community source simply identified himself as Daniel, told journalists explained that the incident occurred on Saturday night, adding that the victims were returning to Daududawadawa community, an island settlement behind the Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering Barracks located in the North Bank area of the state capital
The source stated that the ill-fated boat, which had about 40 people on board, capsized in the middle of the river between 7pm and 8pm during a downpour accompanied by a windstorm.
Penpushing further reports that the Commander of a local vigilante group, Operation Shara (Sweep), in North Bank, Nura Umar, confirmed the incident, explaining that the victims were returning from the burial of a woman from their community at Wadata.
“The deceased woman had been taken to a private hospital in North Bank on Saturday morning where she later died, and the relatives and sympathisers from the island community decided to take the remains to Wadata for her burial’, Umar said.
“After the burial, they boarded a boat to cross back to Daududawadawa community. At about 7pm, heavy rain and strong winds started and the boat capsized halfway into the journey’, he added
“There were over 40 passengers aboard the boat, but 11 were feared dead. We have recovered four bodies so far and buried them, while divers are still searching for the remaining victims’, Umar stated
Penpushing also reports that Umar added that one of the survivors had a baby strapped to her back but lost the child in the accident, however, the Benue State Police Command Public Relations Officer Udeme Edet, when contated said she was yet to receive any report about the incident.
FOOTNOTE: You want to share story with us? You want to advertise with us? You need publicity for product, or service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348073463653 or email penpushing@yahoo.com
