Tragedy on River Benue as Boat Carrying Funeral Mourners Capsizes, 11 Feared Dead

A tragic boat accident has claimed the lives of at least 11 people, including a pregnant woman and six children, after a vessel conveying mourners home from a burial ceremony capsized on the River Benue in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State.

The incident, which occurred on Saturday evening, has thrown residents of the affected riverine communities into mourning as search efforts continue for possible survivors and missing persons.

According to local accounts, the victims were travelling back to Daududawadawa, an island settlement situated behind the Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering in the North Bank area of Makurdi, when disaster struck.

A resident identified simply as Daniel told journalists that the boat was carrying about 40 passengers when it overturned in the middle of the river during heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds.

The accident reportedly occurred between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., at a time when visibility had reduced significantly and weather conditions on the river had become increasingly dangerous.

Witnesses said panic broke out as passengers struggled to stay afloat after the boat capsized. While some occupants reportedly managed to swim to safety or were rescued by nearby residents, several others, including women and children, were swept away by the river’s current.

The incident has once again highlighted the dangers faced by residents of riverine communities across Benue State, where waterways remain a major means of transportation due to limited road access.

For many communities located on islands and remote settlements along the River Benue, boats serve as the primary link to markets, schools, healthcare facilities and social events. However, concerns have repeatedly been raised about inadequate safety measures, overcrowding and the use of vessels during adverse weather conditions.

Boat mishaps are not uncommon in several parts of Nigeria, particularly during the rainy season when strong winds, storms and rising water levels increase risks for passengers. Safety experts have frequently called for stricter enforcement of maritime regulations, mandatory use of life jackets and improved monitoring of commercial and community transport boats.

Residents of Daududawadawa and neighbouring communities were said to have mobilised immediately after receiving news of the accident, joining local rescue efforts along sections of the river.

Families of passengers on board reportedly gathered near the riverbank throughout the night awaiting information on missing relatives.

As of Sunday, fears remained high that the death toll could rise if additional bodies were recovered from the river.

Community leaders have appealed to relevant authorities to provide emergency assistance and support ongoing search-and-rescue operations.

The tragedy has also renewed calls for government intervention to improve transportation infrastructure in riverine areas and reduce the dependence of rural communities on often unsafe water transport.

For the grieving families, however, the immediate concern remains locating missing loved ones and coming to terms with a disaster that turned a journey home from a burial ceremony into another heartbreaking loss.