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At least six students are feared drowned after a wooden boat carrying passengers and vehicles capsized in the Burukuk River in Burukuk Local Government Area of Benue State on Monday night, January 19, 2026.
The victims, all students from Gbeji in Ukum Local Government Area, were reportedly returning to school in Gboko when the tragedy occurred. According to accounts from eyewitnesses and relatives, the boat was grossly overloaded, carrying more than 45 passengers alongside two vehicles loaded with food items and over 20 additional people.
A maritime worker, who spoke anonymously as he was not authorised to comment officially, said the passengers had delayed their journey to allow politicians returning from a church thanksgiving service in Logo to cross first. This delay, he explained, forced the students and other travellers to set out at nightfall. Midway through the crossing, the heavily laden boat became unstable due to the excessive weight and narrow navigable path caused by ongoing bridge construction, leading to the capsize.
Most passengers were rescued, but six students reportedly drowned. Five bodies have so far been recovered, while search efforts continue for one missing victim.
A relative of one of the deceased, Pastor Jethro Moor, confirmed the students were from Gbeji and blamed the accident on overloading. He noted that the weight was too much for the boat to handle, especially with the narrowed waterway.
The Chairman of Burukuk Local Government Area, Raymond Zegeze Aondoakakura, confirmed the incident on Tuesday, January 20, stating that security agencies are handling the situation and rescue teams are still combing the river. He declined to provide further details on casualties pending the conclusion of police investigations.
The Benue State Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Dennis Iyahighigba, expressed deep concern over the tragedy. In a statement released by his media aide, Lubem Gena, the commissioner announced a full-scale investigation to determine the immediate and remote causes, including possible violations of safety regulations. He extended the state government’s condolences to the families of the victims and the Burukuk community.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Benue State Command, DSP Udemede Edet, said the command had not yet received a formal report on the incident as of Tuesday.
Burukuk River remains one of several waterways in Benue State where wooden boats are commonly used for crossing due to the absence of bridges, connecting areas such as Logo and parts of Ukum. Successive administrations have initiated bridge projects in the area, but challenges persist, contributing to recurring safety risks on these routes.
The incident has once again highlighted the dangers of overloading, night travel, and inadequate safety enforcement on inland waterways in the state, renewing calls for stricter regulation and the urgent completion of bridge infrastructure to reduce reliance on risky boat crossings.
