A boat tragedy on the River Benue has reportedly claimed the lives of about 20 people, predominantly women and children, after a wooden vessel capsized near Ocholonya in the Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State on Saturday.
The victims, traders from Odenyi in Nasarawa Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, were returning home after attending the Ocholonya market when the accident occurred.
A local resident, Adanyi, recounted, “Yesterday (Saturday) was Ocholonya market day, and this market is within Agatu LGA. The people, mostly women and children, were returning to their base in Odenyi in Nasarawa State when the boat they were travelling in capsized, and all died.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the Chairman of Agatu LGA, Melvin James, confirmed the incident. “It’s true that there was a boat mishap yesterday, and the people came to Ocholonya market. Ocholonya is in Agatu Local Government. What I learnt is that when they were returning to their base in Apochi and Odenyi communities in Doma, Nasarawa State, the boat they were travelling in capsized.”
James added that efforts were being made to console the affected families and clarify the number of casualties. “Conflicting reports suggest that 20 people have died, but no recovery of the corpses to my knowledge. Locals confirmed that divers have recovered corpses, but as chairman, I must speak authoritatively. I want to establish contact with divers to confirm the actual number of bodies recovered, but their lines were not connecting. However, one source told me that 20 corpses have been recovered, and some people are still missing.”
He also noted that the Nigerian Navy commander in the area had been contacted to assist in ongoing rescue and recovery efforts.
