Benue boat mishap: Family of six among victims as NIWA blames safety violations

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has confirmed that a family of six was among the victims of the weekend boat accident in Makurdi, Benue State, which claimed 11 lives.

The NIWA Area Manager in Makurdi, Mr. Andrew Ndahi, disclosed this after a fact-finding visit to Daudu-Dauda settlement, an island community located behind the Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering (NASME), where the incident occurred.

Ndahi attributed the tragedy to multiple violations of safety regulations, including night sailing, operation during adverse weather conditions, and the use of a faulty vessel.

According to him, preliminary investigations revealed that the wooden boat departed at about 7 p.m., contrary to NIWA’s approved operating hours of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

He explained that the operator ignored warnings against sailing during heavy rainfall and strong winds, despite reports that the vessel had mechanical faults.

The NIWA official said about 22 passengers were on board when the accident occurred.

He disclosed that 11 passengers were rescued alive, while nine bodies had been recovered and buried. One person remains missing, with search and rescue operations still ongoing.

Ndahi further revealed that the boat operator has not been seen since the incident.

He reiterated that inland waterway regulations prohibit night navigation and require operators to suspend movement during storms or severe weather conditions.

The area manager also stressed that the use of life jackets by all passengers and crew members is mandatory, warning that strict compliance with safety guidelines remains critical to preventing avoidable tragedies.

Ndahi added that the agency would intensify sensitisation campaigns in riverine communities to improve awareness of water transportation safety measures and reduce future accidents.