Benue Orders Boat Skipper Arrest, Suspends Maritime Union After Mishap
The Benue State Government has ordered the suspension of a line operator and directed the arrest and detention of a boat skipper following a boat mishap on the River Katsina-Ala that left several passengers unaccounted for.
The government also suspended the Buruku crossing point branch of the Nigeria Union of Maritime Workers (NUMW) after a wooden passenger boat capsized on Saturday. Several passengers were rescued, while others remained missing as search and rescue operations continued.
Search and Rescue Operations Continue
The wooden boat was carrying passengers across the River Katsina-Ala when it capsized. Following the accident, the state government activated search and rescue operations and began working with local divers to intensify efforts to locate passengers who remained unaccounted for.
The state Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Denis Iyaghigba, issued the directives after conducting an on-the-spot assessment of the accident scene.
According to a statement issued by Lubem Gena, Head of Media and Public Orientation in the Office of the Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, the suspension of the Buruku crossing point branch of NUMW was one of the immediate measures taken after the accident.
Iyaghigba also directed that the line operator be suspended and that the boat skipper be arrested and detained pending further investigation into the circumstances surrounding the mishap.
The Commissioner said the government was determined to establish what caused the accident and take measures to prevent similar incidents on the state’s waterways.
“The Ministry has since activated its search and rescue processes and is working with local divers to intensify the search and rescue,” Iyaghigba said.
Investigation to Examine Causes of Boat Accident
An inter-ministerial committee has been constituted to investigate the incident and establish its immediate, remote and underlying causes.
The committee will examine the circumstances surrounding the mishap and make recommendations aimed at strengthening maritime safety standards at river crossing points across Benue State.
Iyaghigba also ordered strict compliance with the mandatory use of life jackets at all river crossing points in the state.
According to the Commissioner, the directive is part of measures to strengthen safety and protect passengers using the waterways.
Abandoned Barge Becomes Additional Safety Concern
The Commissioner also raised concern over an abandoned barge at the crossing point, which was believed to have contributed to the accident.
He gave the owner of the abandoned barge a seven-day ultimatum to evacuate it from the crossing point or risk having it confiscated by the state government.
The Commissioner will also work with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) during the week to further examine the circumstances surrounding the accident and strengthen waterway safety measures across the state.
The government said further details would be made available, while investigations and rescue efforts continue.
Maritime Safety Measures under Review
The response focuses on the immediate search for missing passengers while authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the boat accident.
The suspension of the line operator and the Buruku crossing point branch of NUMW, together with the directive on mandatory life jackets, forms part of the government’s stated measures following the mishap. The investigation will also examine the reported role of the abandoned barge and recommend measures to strengthen safety at river crossing points.
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