An overloaded wooden boat capsized Monday night at the notorious Buruku River crossing in Benue State, claiming at least six lives—mostly students heading back to school in Gboko.
The vessel, carrying more than 45 passengers plus vehicles, sank midway across the river around 11 p.m.
Rescue teams saved about 35 survivors, but divers recovered five bodies while search operations continue for the sixth missing student from Gbeji community.
Eyewitnesses blame overloading for the disaster.
The boat struggled under the combined weight before it overturned in the dark waters.
Many victims came from Ukum and Logo local government areas, eager to resume classes after the holidays.
This latest incident exposes the deadly risks at Buruku crossing, where no completed bridge forces reliance on rickety ferries.
The site has claimed dozens of lives in recent years: 13 perished in 2018, 17 in 2023, 14 mourners in 2024, and more in early January 2026 alone.
Local residents decry repeated government inaction.
Authorities promised bridge construction years ago, yet travelers still risk their lives on unregulated boats that ignore safety rules like life jackets and capacity limits.
Nigeria grapples with a wider boat safety crisis.
Over 3,000 incidents occurred in the past decade, and at least 452 people died from July to December 2024 due to overloading, nighttime travel, and lax enforcement.
Community leaders now demand urgent intervention—finish the bridge, regulate ferries strictly, and equip crossings with proper rescue resources—to prevent more avoidable heartbreak at Buruku.
