The Benue State Emergency Management Agency (Benue-SEMA) has deployed local divers to search for the remaining missing persons from the tragic boat accident on the River Katsina-Ala in the Buruku council.

Tema Ager, Benue-SEMA spokesman, confirmed this during a telephone interview on Monday in Makurdi.

Mr Ager said the operation had been challenging because of difficult conditions in the affected section of the river and the presence of submerged motorcycles and other materials.

“Rescue teams are working methodically to locate the missing persons and establish the circumstances surrounding the mishap.

“So far, 125 passengers have been rescued, while more than nine others remain missing as rescue operations continue at the scene,” he said.

He said the figures remained provisional, as authorities were still reconciling the number of people aboard the boat with information obtained from survivors, relatives and community leaders.

According to him, an estimated 138 people were believed to have been in the boat, although the exact number of passengers had yet to be established.

Mr Ager said authorities had engaged survivors, relatives of victims and leaders of the affected community and association to obtain information that could assist the search and rescue operation.

He said 38 motorcycles were also reportedly conveyed on the ill-fated boat, with three passengers said to have been associated with each motorcycle.

The SEMA official said some figures came from mourners and others at the scene, while passengers who joined the boat from the riverside have yet to be fully identified.

He said authorities would continue the investigation and search operation until they established the status of all persons believed to have been aboard the boat.

Mr Ager also appealed to river users to follow water-safety measures, particularly wearing life jackets while travelling by boat.

He said life jackets had been provided in the past, but some passengers often ignored the safety precaution and boarded boats without wearing them.

He urged passengers at the Buruku crossing point and other waterways to always wear life jackets and follow safety instructions to prevent avoidable loss of life.

On October 3, a wooden boat carrying passengers and motorcycles reportedly had trouble while crossing the River Katsina-Ala at the Buruku crossing point.

(NAN)