The Benue State Emergency Management Agency (Benue-SEMA) has deployed local divers to search for passengers still missing following a boat accident on River Katsina-Ala in Buruku Local Government Area of the state.
The Head of Information Unit of Benue-SEMA, Mr Tema Ager, confirmed this on Monday.
Ager said the rescue operation had been challenging due to difficult conditions in the affected section of the river, including submerged motorcycles and other materials.
“Rescue teams are working methodically to locate the missing persons and establish the circumstances surrounding the mishap,” he told NAN.
He said 125 passengers had so far been rescued, while more than nine others remained missing as the search operation continued.
Ager, however, said the figures were provisional as authorities were still reconciling the number of people aboard the boat with information obtained from survivors, relatives and community leaders.
According to him, an estimated 138 people were believed to have been involved in the incident, although the exact number of passengers had yet to be established.
He said authorities had engaged survivors, relatives of victims, community leaders and representatives of the affected association to gather information that could assist the search and rescue operation.
The SEMA official added that 38 motorcycles were reportedly conveyed on the ill-fated boat, with three passengers said to have been associated with each motorcycle.
He explained that some of the figures were obtained from mourners and others at the scene, while passengers who boarded the boat from the riverside had yet to be fully identified.
Ager said the authorities would continue the search and investigation until the status of everyone believed to have been aboard the boat was established.
He also appealed to river users to observe water-safety measures, particularly the use of life jackets while travelling by boat.
According to him, life jackets had been provided in the past, but some passengers often ignored the safety precautions and boarded boats without wearing them.
He urged passengers using the Buruku crossing point and other waterways to always wear life jackets and comply with safety instructions to prevent avoidable loss of lives.
On October 3, a wooden boat conveying passengers and motorcycles reportedly developed difficulties while crossing River Katsina-Ala at the Buruku crossing point.
