Boat Mishap; BNSG Suspends Buruku Boat Union, Arrests Operator Over Mishap.

The Benue State Government has suspended the Buruku crossing point branch of the Nigeria Union of Maritime Workers (NUMW) following a boat accident that occurred on Saturday, leaving several passengers unaccounted for while others were rescued.

The suspension was announced by the Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Denis Ter Iyaghigba, after he visited the scene of the accident to assess the situation. He also ordered the immediate suspension of the line operator and directed that the boat skipper involved in the incident be arrested and detained.

The state government is also taking steps to determine what caused the accident. An inter-ministerial committee is being set up to investigate the immediate, remote and underlying factors responsible for the mishap. The investigation is expected to establish whether safety regulations were violated and identify measures to prevent similar incidents.

Meanwhile, the ministry is working with local divers and rescue teams to intensify efforts to locate passengers who are still missing. The government has also reiterated the importance of complying with the mandatory use of life jackets at all river crossing points across Benue State.

In addition, the owner of an abandoned barge believed to have contributed to the accident has been given a seven-day ultimatum to remove the vessel from the crossing point. The government warned that failure to comply within the stipulated period could lead to the barge being confiscated.

The measures demonstrate the state government’s immediate response to the accident, with emphasis on accountability, passenger safety, search and rescue operations, and stricter regulation of river transportation.