Death toll hits 20 as boat capsizes in Benue

The Benue State Police Command on Sunday confirmed that 20 passengers were killed in the boat that capsized on River Benue last Saturday.

The spokesperson for the state command, Catherine Anene, said 11 persons had been rescued from the river while 20 corpses had been recovered, adding that an operation was still ongoing to rescue others.

In a terse statement, she said, “The incident (boat accident) is confirmed and rescue operation is ongoing.

“Eleven persons were rescued while 20 corpses were recovered.”

PUNCH Metro gathered that the boat accident victims were reported to be returning to their base in Apochi and Odenyi in Doma LGA of Nasarawa having left Ocholonya market in Agatu LGA of Benue State on Saturday when the boat they were travelling in capsized.

A native of Ocholonya, who simply identified himself as Adanyi, told our correspondent that more than 20 people , mostly women and children, were in the wooden boat when the incident happened.

He said, “Yesterday (Saturday) was the Ocholonya market, and this market is within Agatu LGA but the people who were mostly women and children were returning to their base in Odenyi in Nasarawa State when the boat they were traveling in capsized and all died.

The Chairman of Agatu LGA, Melvin James, also  confirmed the report in a  telephone chat on Sunday and said the victims were from Nasarawa State.

He said, “It’s true that there was a boat crash yesterday, and the people came to Ocholonya market. Ocholonya is in Agatu Local Government Area.

“What I learnt is that when they were returning to their base in Apochi and Odenyi communities in Doma in Nasarawa State the boat they were traveling in capsized.

“I am trying to get my colleague from Nasarawa State to see how we can go there to visit the families and console them.

He added, “The conflicting reports are that sources said that 20 people have died but no recovery of the corpses to my knowledge.

“Though locals confirmed that divers had recovered corpses but as the chairman, I must be able to speak authoritatively. I want to establish contact with the divers to know the actual number of bodies recovered but their lines were not connecting.

“But somebody giving me the information said 20 corpses had been recovered and the person said that he saw those corpses and that some people are still missing.”

 The chairman said that he had informed the commander of Nigeria Navy in the LG  to help in the rescue mission.