Fresh indications have shown that operators of the boat that was involved in an accident along the River Buruku in Benue State where 18 persons were reported dead, may have gone against the rules and regulations of the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), guiding boat operations on the waterways.
In a statement by the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, NIWA; Mr Tayo Fadile on Friday, a copy of which was sighted by Shipping Piece Daily, he said that as against what was earlier reported that 18 person died, 11 persons were actually dead and 12 were rescued.
He also disclosed that the search for the remaining people is still ongoing.
In the statement, he explained that: "The attention of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has been drown to media reports claiming that eighteen (18) people lost their lives along River Buruku in Benue State.
However, information made available to us by NIWA’s Area Manager in Benue State, Engr. Danjuma Mohammed Kabiru who visited the site of the Boat accident confirmed that eleven (11) people died while twelve (12) were rescued and eighteen (18) motorcycles that are on the boat recovered. The search for the seven (7) remaining bodies is ongoing”.
He added that “it should be noted that as against the standard practice, a vehicular boat was used to ferry the 30 passengers on board which was obviously overloaded".
According to him, the Area Manager in Benue state, Engineer Danjuma Mohammed, who was on ground to ascertain the level of casualty, said that as against NIWA' s guideline which stipulated that no boat should move after 6:00pm, the ill-fated boat moved by 9:00pm.
He also commiserated with the state government and the families of the affected victims.
"The Area Manager also confirm that against NIWA safety guideline which stipulated that boats and river craft should not travel after 6.00pm on our waterways, this ill-fated boat started its journey by 9:00pm and also contrary to NIWA safety guidelines none of the 30 passengers were wearing life jackets.
While we commiserate with the Government and people of Benue State on this unfortunate incident, we are also using this opportunity to urge all intending passengers on our waterways to always adhere to the safety guidelines as provided by NIWA, especially the need to wear life jacket and to discourage traveling on our waterways after 6:00pm.
We are particularly worried that a ferry boat designed to carry only vehicles was illegally turned to a passenger vessel, causing the loss of 18 precious lives"
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