At least 20 people were reported to have died on the River Benue on Saturday when a boat they were traveling in capsized near the Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.
Reports indicate that the victims had come to Ocholonya in Agatu LGA to trade, as it was a market day, and were returning to Doma in Nasarawa State when the wooden boat capsized, resulting in drowning.
A local resident of Ocholonya, who identified himself as Adanyi, mentioned that there were over 20 people on the wooden boat at the time of the incident, mostly women and children.
According to him, “Yesterday (Saturday) was Ocholonya market, and this market is within Agatu LGA but the people who were mostly women and children were returning to their base in Odenyi in Nasarawa State when the boat they were traveling in capsized and all died.
Chairman of Agatu LGA, Melvin James who confirmed the incident to our correspondent on the phone on Sunday said that the victims were from Nasarawa State.
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He said, “It’s true that there was boat mishap yesterday, and the people came to Ocholonya market, Ocholonya is in Agatu Local Government.
“What I learnt is that when they were returning to their base in Apochi and Odenyi communities in Doma in Nasarawa State the boat they were traveling in capsized.
“Am trying to get my colleague from Nasarawa State to see how we can go there to visit the families and console them.
He added, “The conflicting reports is that sources said that 20 people have died but no recovery of the corpses to my knowledge.
“Though, locals confirmed that local divers have recovered corpses but as chairman I must be able to speak authoritatively, I want to establish contact with divers to know the actual number of bodies recovered but their lines were not connecting.
“But somebody given me the information said that 20 corpses have been recovered and the person said that he saw those corpses and that some people are still missing.
James said that he had informed the commander of Nigeria Navy in the LG to help in the rescue mission.
Efforts to get the spokesperson for the state Police Command, Catherine Anene were not successful as her phone did not connect.
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