By Sunday Ogli, Makurdi
This is even as the state government has suspended the activities of the Nigeria Union of Maritime Workers, Buruku Branch.
No fewer than four persons have been confirmed dead while 125 others have been rescued following a boat mishap on the River Katsina-Ala in Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State.
The Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA) confirmed the casualties and ongoing rescue efforts to journalists in Makurdi, on Monday.
The Head of Information Unit of BSEMA, Mr Tema Ager, confirmed the development during a telephone interview with journalists in Makurdi.
Ager said 125 passengers had so far been rescued, while more than nine others were still missing as search and rescue operations continued.
He, however, stressed that the figures remained provisional, as authorities were still reconciling information on the number of people aboard the boat with accounts from survivors, relatives and community leaders.
According to him, an estimated 138 people were believed to have been involved in the incident, although the exact number of passengers had yet to be established.
He also intimated that the agency was working with survivors, relatives of victims, community leaders and relevant associations to obtain information that could assist the ongoing search and rescue operation.
Ager stated that 38 motorcycles were also reportedly being transported on the ill-fated boat, with three passengers said to have been associated with each motorcycle.
The official said divers had been deployed to search for missing persons and recover submerged motorcycles and other belongings from the river.
He explained that the operation had been challenging because of difficult conditions in the affected section of the river, as well as the presence of submerged motorcycles and other materials.
Ager said five motorcycles had so far been recovered, while 33 others remained at the affected location as the recovery operation continued.
He said rescue teams were working systematically to locate the missing persons and establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The BSEMA official added that some of the figures were obtained from mourners and other people at the scene, while passengers who joined the boat from different points along the riverbank were yet to be fully identified.
He said authorities would continue the search and investigate until the status of all persons believed to have been aboard the boat was established.
