By Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
At least four people have died while 125 others have been rescued following a boat mishap on the River Katsina-Ala in Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State.
The Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA) confirmed the casualties and ongoing rescue efforts on Monday.
The Head of Information Unit of BSEMA, Mr Tema Ager, disclosed this in a telephone interview with journalists in Makurdi.
Ager said 125 passengers had so far been rescued, while more than nine others were still missing as search and rescue operations continued.
He, however, stressed that the figures remained provisional, as authorities were still reconciling information on the number of people aboard the boat with accounts 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.
Ager said the agency was working with survivors, relatives of victims, community leaders and relevant associations to obtain information that could assist the ongoing search and rescue operation.
He said 38 motorcycles were also reportedly being transported on the ill-fated boat, with three passengers said to have been associated with each motorcycle.
The official said divers had been deployed to search for missing persons and recover submerged motorcycles and other belongings from the river.
He explained that the operation had been challenging because of difficult conditions in the affected section of the river, as well as the presence of submerged motorcycles and other materials.
Ager said five motorcycles had so far been recovered, while 33 others remained at the affected location as the recovery operation continued.
He said rescue teams were working systematically to locate the missing persons and establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The BSEMA official added that some of the figures were obtained from mourners and other people at the scene, while passengers who joined the boat from different points along the riverbank were yet to be fully identified.
He said authorities would continue the search and investigation until the status of all persons believed to have been aboard the boat was established.
Ager also urged river users to observe water-safety measures, particularly the use of life jackets when travelling by boat.
He said life jackets had been provided in the past, but some passengers often ignored the safety 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.
The incident reportedly occurred on October 3 when a wooden boat carrying passengers and motorcycles encountered difficulties while crossing the River Katsina-Ala at the Buruku crossing point.
Local residents, government agencies and divers subsequently commenced rescue operations, which were still ongoing as of Monday.
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