Six Dead, 35 Rescued As Passenger Boat Capsizes Along Buruku River, In Benue State

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Benue State Government said it has launched a full scale investigation to unravel the remote and immediate circumstances surrounding a tragic boat mishap at the Buruku River crossing in Buruku Local Council of the State.

No fewer than six persons have been confirmed dead and over 35 others rescued following the capsize of a wooden boat late on Monday night,January 18, 2026.

Most of the passengers on board were said to be students returning to school in Gboko and other nearby communities after the break.

Local witness accounts informed that the tragic incident occurred at about 11 pm, while the boat was enroute to the Buruku Local Council.

Although no official reasons have been adduced by the relevant authorities, but there are strong indications that the boat which was said to be carrying over 45 persons, as well as vehicles, may have capsized owing to overloading.

“The boat, as you know, is a wooden one ,and it was carrying passengers and seven vehicles across the river to Buruku when it suddenly capsized.

“There were over 45 people on that boat , including vehicles .It was simply overload.

” So far about 35 passengers have been rescued alive , while six deaths have been confirmed ., with others still missing.

” Most of the victims were students returning to school in Gboko and nearby communities . This is very unfortunate,but could have been avoided” a local source volunteered .

The Benue state Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy ,Denis Iyaghigba in a statement issued by his spokesperson Lubem Gena while expressing shock and grave concern, however decried the tendency for people to embark on unsafe and unregulated inland water journeys .

The Commissioner stated that the investigation will seek to establish the level of compliance and or violations of safety regulations , operational negligence ,or the involvement of environmental factors in the mishap.

This is as he assured that all relevant authorities have been fully mobilized to intensify rescue operations .

” We are committed to accounting for all passengers ,and conducting a thorough , transparent and uncompromising.investigstion, with appropriate sanctions against any individuals or operators found culpable”, Iyaghigba added.