At least six students returning to school have been confirmed dead following a boat accident at the Buruku crossing point in Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State.
The incident occurred on Sunday night, January 18, 2026, when a wooden boat conveying students and other passengers capsized while crossing the River Benue. Witnesses said the boat was travelling from the Logo Local Government Area axis to the Buruku side of the river, carrying passengers mainly from the Sankera axis.
According to eyewitness accounts, passengers had waited for several hours at the crossing point before embarking on the journey. They were reportedly delayed after being asked to allow politicians who had attended a church thanksgiving service in the Logo area to cross the river first. As a result, the journey was undertaken late at night.
A maritime worker at the crossing point, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the boat was heavily loaded when it eventually departed.
“The passengers waited all day and night fell on them before they were allowed to cross. They were many, and midway into the journey, the boat capsized. Most of the passengers were rescued, but six students drowned. Five bodies have been recovered, while one is still missing. Search efforts are ongoing,” the source said.
Another witness attributed the accident to overloading, noting that the wooden boat was conveying both passengers and vehicles at the time of the mishap.
“There were over 45 people on that boat, including vehicles. It was simply overloaded, and that caused it to sink,” the witness stated.
A relative of the victims, Pastor Jethro Moor, said the deceased students were returning to school in Gboko. He explained that they were all from Gbeji community in Ukum Local Government Area and were travelling with food items packed in two vehicles, which were also loaded onto the boat.
“The accident was caused by excessive loading. Two vehicles filled with food items and over 20 passengers were on the boat. With the ongoing bridge construction on the river, the route used by boat operators has become narrow, and the weight of the boat affected its ability to stay afloat,” Moor said.
Chairman of Buruku Local Government Area, Raymond Aondoakura, confirmed the incident, saying security agencies were handling the situation while rescue teams continued search operations on the river.
When contacted on the exact number of casualties, the chairman said details would be made public after the conclusion of police investigations.
Meanwhile, the Benue State Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Dennis Iyaghigba, expressed grave concern over the incident, describing it as a painful reminder of the risks associated with unsafe and poorly regulated inland water transportation.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Lubem Gena, the commissioner extended condolences to the families of the victims and the Buruku community.
He disclosed that a full investigation had been launched to determine the immediate and remote causes of the accident, including possible safety violations, operational negligence and environmental factors.
