The Benue State Government has suspended the Buruku crossing point branch of the Nigeria Union of Maritime Workers (NUMW) and ordered the arrest and detention of the skipper of the boat involved in Saturday’s mishap. Authorities have also directed the immediate suspension of the line operator as efforts intensify to locate passengers still unaccounted for following the accident.
Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Denis Ter Iyaghigba, announced the measures after visiting the scene of the incident for an on-the-spot assessment. In a statement issued after the visit, Iyaghigba said an inter-ministerial committee would be constituted to investigate the immediate, remote and underlying causes of the mishap. He added that the ministry was already working with local divers to intensify search and rescue operations for those still missing.
The commissioner further directed all operators at river crossing points across the state to ensure strict compliance with the mandatory use of life jackets, stressing the importance of safety measures in water transportation. Iyaghigba also gave the owner of an abandoned barge, believed to have contributed to the accident, a seven-day ultimatum to remove it from the crossing point, warning that the government would confiscate the vessel if the directive was not complied with.
The latest measures followed the Saturday boat mishap at the Buruku crossing point, where rescue efforts are continuing for passengers who remain unaccounted for.
