By Martin Iyonguvihi
Six persons have been confirmed dead and 8 others missing in a boat mishap in Guma Local Government area of Benue by the Police Command in Benue.
The mishap which occurred on Tuesday, September 20, 2022 around Fada village in Guma involved a boat conveying about 40 persons for business from Guma LGA to Buruku LGA.
According to a statement released in Makurdi Thursday by the Benue Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Catherine Anene, about 26 persons were rescued and are receiving treatment in hospital.
The statement read: “On 20/9/2022 at 1300hrs a boat conveying forty person’s from Guma LGA to Buruku LGA for business capsized in the river around Fada village, Guma LGA.
“Combined efforts of the police and fishermen in the area led to the rescue of twenty six (26) persons who were taken to hospital for treatment, six (6) corpses have been recovered while a search for the remaining eight (8) persons is on going.
“The Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, CP Wale Abass, commiserate with families and friends of the dead while advising travellers who choose water transport to employ maximum safety measures, while traveling on water, especially now that the volume of water is very high.”