The Benue State Emergency Management Agency (Benue-SEMA) has deployed local divers to search for passengers still missing after a boat accident on River Katsina-Ala in Buruku Local Government Area of the state.
Mr Tema Ager, Head of the Information Unit, Benue-SEMA, confirmed this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Makurdi.
Ager said the search had been hampered by difficult conditions in the affected section of the river, including submerged motorcycles and other materials.
He said rescue teams were conducting a systematic search to locate the missing passengers and determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“So far, 125 passengers have been rescued, while more than nine others remain missing as rescue operations continued at the scene,” he said.
Ager said the figures remained provisional as authorities continued to reconcile the number of people aboard the boat with information gathered from survivors, relatives and community leaders.
He said an estimated 138 people were on board, although the exact number of passengers had yet to be determined.
According to him, authorities had engaged survivors, relatives of victims, community leaders, and members of the affected association to gather information to aid the search and rescue operation.
Ager said 38 motorcycles were reportedly transported on the ill-fated boat, with three passengers reportedly associated with each motorcycle.
He explained that some of the figures were obtained from mourners and others at the scene, while passengers who boarded at different points along the riverside were yet to be fully identified.
The official said the search and investigation would continue until authorities establish the status of everyone believed to have been aboard the boat.
Ager also urged river users to strictly observe water-safety measures, particularly the use of life jackets when traveling by boat.
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He said life jackets had previously been provided, but some passengers often ignored the precaution 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 Oct. 3, a wooden boat carrying passengers and motorcycles reportedly encountered difficulties while crossing River Katsina-Ala at the Buruku crossing point.
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