SEMA confirms four deaths, 125 persons rescued, over nine still missing in Benue boat mishap

The management of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has confirmed the death of four passengers in the Saturday boat mishap on River Benue at the Buruku crossing point in Buruku Local Government Area of the state.
Recall that the incident occurred on 3 October 2026, when a wooden boat conveying about 138 passengers and 38 motorcycles reportedly developed engine faults while crossing River Benue at the Buruku crossing point.
The head of Information Unit, Benue SEMA, Mr Tema Ager, confirmed this in a telephone conversation on Monday in Makurdi.
Ager, who noted that rescue operations were still ongoing at the scene, said 125 passengers had so far been rescued, while mor...