49 rescued, 3 bodies found in Benue boat mishap
A total of 49 individuals have been successfully rescued, while three bodies have been recovered following a tragic boat accident on the River Benue in Agatu Local Government Area, Benue State.
According to a statement issued from the NEMA Media Office, the incident involved a boat carrying 76 passengers, as the driver, unaware of a submerged tree in the river, inadvertently steered into it, leading to the boat tipping and capsizing.
The unfortunate iccident occurred on Saturday, December 15th, at approximately 7:00 PM, as the passengers were making their way home from the Ocholonya Market, a significant economic hub attracting traders from Agatu and neighboring regions, including Nasarawa State.
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In addition to the rescued individuals, one passenger was able to swim to safety.
However, 23 people remain unaccounted for, with many of the passengers originating from Odenyi Magaji and surrounding communities in Nasarawa State.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is collaborating with the Benue State Emergency Management Agency, local authorities, and divers to accelerate ongoing search and rescue efforts in hopes of locating the missing passengers.
NEMA has also reached out to the Nigerian Navy for additional support in these critical operations.
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