Over 20 persons were Saturday night reportedly killed in a boat mishap while crossing River Benue in Agatu Local Government Area, LGA, of Benue state.
It was gathered from a source in the area that the victims of the mishap were mostly traders and Agatu indigenes from Nasarawa state.
According to the source, the traders were being conveyed across the River to Odenyi in Nasarawa state at about 8pm after trading at Ocholonya market in Agatu LGA.
He said “the victims were mostly Agatu people from Toto and Doma LGAs in Nasarawa state who came to Ocholonya market on Saturday to trade.
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“They were crossing to Odenyi in Nasarawa after the market. I was in Ijaha at about 8pm when I heard women crying and shouting that the boat conveying the traders to the Nasarawa side of the river sank before getting to the shore.
“We learnt that the wooden canoe conveying them was overloaded and because they were in a hurry to go back since it was getting late all pleas that some of the passengers should drop was ignored.
“Midway into the journey the canoe broke into parts after it ran into a tree and the many of the passengers drowned. Some of the corpses have been recovered by local divers and several others have not been located.
“Local divers are still searching for survivors and the corpses of the dead. It is a sad weekend for the people of Agatu in Benue and Nasarawa states because we are all one people.”
Contacted, the Agatu LGA Chairman, Mr. Melvin Ejeh who confirmed the development said about 20 corpses had already been recovered while search was still ongoing.
He said, “the victim were mostly Agatu traders from Odadu, Rukubi, Agbashi, Ajima and other communities in Nasarawa State who came to Ocholonya market in Agatu LGA to do business and were on their way back to Nasarawa state when the mishap happened.
“I am already in touch with the Chairmen of Toto and Doma LGAs in Nasarawa state over the matter and we are all working together on the matter.
“I have also contacted the Nigeria Navy for help and we are all working to rescue survivors and also recover the remains of the dead. So far about 20 corpses have been recovered and the search is still ongoing.”
Effort to reach the Police Public Relations officer, Superintendent, SP, Catherine Anene was unsuccessful and the State Command was yet to issue a statement on the matter at the time of this report.