Over 60 rescued as passenger boat crashes in Benue

More than 60 passengers have been rescued after a boat accident at the Buruku crossing point in Benue State.

Buruku Local Government chairman Raymond Zege told Peoples Gazette that the boat developed an engine fault while ferrying passengers across the river around midnight Friday.

Zege said occupants struggled to control the vessel as other boats attempted to rescue them, but strong waves and the weight of passengers complicated the operation.

The exact number of missing passengers remains unknown as rescue teams work to establish how many people were aboard.

Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy Denis Iyaghigba said preliminary reports showed a strong current swept the boat into an abandoned barge, causing it to tumble.

Authorities said search and rescue efforts were continuing, with downstream boat operators mobilised to assist.

Zege urged strict compliance with maritime safety regulations, particularly the use of life jackets, saying some passengers often resisted wearing them despite jackets being provided for commuters at the crossing.