A devastating boat accident has claimed the lives of six students in Benue State, Nigeria. The incident occurred on Monday night, January 21 2026, at the Buruku crossing point in Buruku Local Government Area. The wooden boat was carrying over 45 passengers, including vehicles, when it capsized midway through the journey.
An eyewitness attributed the tragedy to overloading, stating that the boat was simply overloaded with passengers and vehicles. The victims, mostly students returning to school in Gboko and nearby communities, were on their way to resume school after the holiday.
The Benue State Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Denis Iyaghigba, expressed grave concern over the incident, describing it as a painful reminder of the dangers associated with unsafe and unregulated inland water transport. A full-scale investigation has been launched to determine the immediate and remote causes of the accident.
The commissioner warned that recklessness and disregard for safety standards would no longer be tolerated, assuring that enforcement measures would be strengthened. These include vessel inspections, operator licensing, passenger safety education, and closer monitoring of river transport activities across the state