A tragic incident struck Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State yesterday evening when a farmer lost five of his six children in a boat accident while returning home from the farm.
According to eyewitnesses, the man and his children were returning to their community in Obagaji after harvesting cassava when their canoe capsized midway.
Local sources reported that although the father and one child survived, the other five drowned.
A resident identified as Ameh told journalists today that local divers and community members immediately launched a rescue operation after the mishap.
“The accident has thrown the entire Obagaji community into mourning,” he said.
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Agatu Local Government Area, Melvin James, said seven people were onboard the canoe at the time of the accident.
He revealed that preliminary findings suggest the boat was overloaded, a factor believed to have contributed to the tragedy.
“The man and his six children were returning from their farm when their canoe capsized. Sadly, five of the children died, while the father and one child survived,” James said, adding that the man’s wife was not part of the trip.
Describing the occurrence as “deeply unfortunate,” the council chairman extended condolences to the bereaved family.
Boat accidents are not uncommon in Benue, particularly in riverine communities across Agatu, Logo, and Buruku local government areas.
In 2024, 14 mourners died after their boat overturned in the Buruku River while returning from a burial.
In December of the same year, another mishap in Agatu claimed 20 lives—mostly women and children—when a wooden boat sank in the Benue River.
Efforts to reach the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, Udeme Edet, for comments were unsuccessful as her phone remained unreachable at press time.