Benue boat accident: Rescuers recover 15 bodies, many missing

No fewer than 15 bodies had been recovered from the Buruku River in Buruku Local Government of Benue State, where about 50 persons were said to have been involved in a boat accident in the river on Thursday.
Many passengers are however said to be missing 24 hours after the accident.
The passengers were believed to be fun-seekers, who were at the Buruku Beach to celebrate the Boxing Day.
The incident reportedly occurred at about 8.45pm when the boat capsized while crossing a terminal. minutes after it took off.
The Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ezeala, who confirmed the incident said search-and-rescue officers had so far recovered 15 corpses, adding that no survivors had yet been found.
He stated that rescue teams were still searching for victims, noting that investigation into the accident had commenced.
A similar tragedy occurred in the state on September 29,2012 when 65 people, mostly women and children, died in a boat accident on the Agatu River while fleeing their homeland which was submerged by flood.
The passengers were travelling in an old engine boat to Lokoja to stay with their relatives when the vessel capsized.