A middle-aged man in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State has been thrown into deep mourning after losing five of his six children in a boat mishap that occurred on Sunday evening.
According to local sources, the family was returning home from the farm when the canoe conveying them capsized on the river near Obagaji community.
Residents told journalists that the man and his children had gone to harvest cassava earlier in the day. However, tragedy struck on their way home when the overloaded canoe sank midstream.
Naijaonpoint understands that of the seven people on board, the father and his six children, only the father and one of the children survived.
A community member identified as Ameh said local divers and volunteers immediately launched a rescue operation after hearing of the incident.
He said, “People rushed to the scene and tried their best to rescue them, but it was already too late for five of the children. The whole community is in mourning; this is one of the saddest things we have seen.”
Confirming the tragedy, the Chairman of Agatu Local Government Area, Melvin James, described the incident as heartbreaking.
He said, “The man and his six children had gone to the farm to harvest crops, but on their way back, the canoe conveying them capsized, and five of the children drowned. The father and one child survived.”
James added that the canoe was overloaded, which might have contributed to the accident.
He said the mother of the children was not part of the trip and received the news in shock when informed.
While describing the loss as “devastating and unfortunate,” the chairman extended condolences to the bereaved family and urged residents to always observe safety measures while travelling on water.
Naijaonpoint reports that boat accidents have become frequent tragedies in several riverine parts of Benue State, particularly in Agatu, Logo, and Buruku Local Government Areas.
In 2024, about 14 mourners returning from a burial in Logo LGA lost their lives after their boat capsized in the River Buruku, while 26 others were rescued.
Similarly, in December 2024, another deadly accident claimed the lives of 20 traders, mostly women and children, in Agatu when a wooden boat sank in the Benue River.
Despite repeated tragedies, residents say most local ferries and canoes continue to operate without life jackets or safety supervision.
However, the state police command has yet to issue any statement on the latest development as of the time of filing this report. Meanwhile, community leaders have appealed to the state government to provide safer boats and strengthen the regulation of water transport in the area to prevent further loss of lives.
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