Tragedy struck in Benue State on Saturday night as at least 11 mourners, including a pregnant woman and six children, were feared dead after a boat carrying them home from a burial capsized on the River Benue in Makurdi Local Government Area.
The victims were heading back to Daududawadawa community, an island settlement behind the Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering (NASME) Barracks in North Bank, when the boat overturned midway. The incident happened between 7pm and 8pm during heavy rain and strong winds.
The group had attended the burial of a woman from their community in Wadata, a suburb of Makurdi, earlier in the day.
Confirming the incident, Commander of Operation Shara (Sweep), a local vigilante group in North Bank, Mr. Nura Umar, gave details of how the burial came about after the woman died in hospital.
“What happened was that we took a sick woman from the community behind NASME to a private hospital in North Bank yesterday morning, where she later died. Her relatives came and joined us for the burial at Wadata,” Umar said.
He added: “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.
“There were over 40 passengers aboard the boat, but 11 are feared dead. We have recovered four bodies so far and buried them, while divers are still searching for the remaining victims.”
Among the feared dead were a pregnant woman and six children. One survivor reportedly lost her baby during the accident.
“One of the women survived, but the baby she had strapped to her back was swept away when the boat capsized,” he said.
The community has been thrown into mourning as search efforts continue. Local divers and volunteers are still combing the river, while families wait anxiously along the riverbank.
