About 28 persons were feared dead on Sunday afternoon 5th July, after a canoe they were traveling in capsized in River Benue.
It was gathered that the boat was conveying mainly members of the ECAN Church Ijaha in Makurdi L.G.A to a meeting across the river when it sank at Kwaghtan Sule in Guma L.G.A.
According to a source that spoke with Vanguard, the canoe which had a carrying capacity of not more than 15 passengers was overload with over 30 passengers and sank midway of the journey.
“The number of people in that canoe cannot be ascertained because the operators do not keep records of the number of passengers that get on board but they may be over 30 in that boat which should carry more than 15 passengers.
“Though two persons were rescued alive, some others have not been seen but the search is still ongoing and it is being carried out by local fishermen and the police,” the source said.
In a statement by the Benue State Police Command signed by the Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent Catherine Anene, said that 21 persons were missing in the mishap that occurred at about 2:30 pm on Sunday.
“We received information at about 2:30 pm Sunday that 23 members of ECAN Church Ijaha, Makurdi Local Government boarded a Boat to attend a conference across River Benue, at the midstream, the boat sank into the river.
“Marine Police search party were deployed to the scene where two persons were rescued alive while 21 persons are still missing.”
