By Daniel Zendesha 

No fewer than 11 people are feared dead after a boat conveying mourners from a burial ceremony capsized on River Benue in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State on Saturday evening. Local sources said the vessel overturned during a heavy downpour and windstorm while carrying more than 40 passengers back to an island community in the North Bank area.

At least 11 persons, including a pregnant woman and six children, are feared dead following a tragic boat accident on River Benue in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State.

The incident reportedly occurred between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday as residents of Daududawadawa community were returning from the burial of a woman in Wadata.

According to a local resident identified as Daniel, the boat was transporting more than 40 passengers back to the island settlement located behind the Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering Barracks in the North Bank area of Makurdi when it capsized midway through the journey.

Daniel said the accident happened during a heavy rainstorm accompanied by strong winds.

Confirming the incident, the Commander of Operation Shara (Sweep), a local vigilante group in North Bank, Nura Umar, said the passengers had attended the burial of a deceased community member before boarding the boat for the return trip.

According to Umar, the woman had earlier been taken to a private hospital in North Bank where she later died. Her remains were subsequently buried in Wadata before relatives and sympathisers began their journey home.

He stated that severe weather conditions struck while the boat was crossing the river, causing it to overturn.

Umar said four bodies had been recovered and buried, while search efforts continued for other missing passengers.

He also disclosed that one survivor lost a baby who had been strapped to her back during the accident.

As of Sunday, the Benue State Police Command said it had not yet received an official report on the incident.

Efforts to obtain comments from the Chairman of Makurdi Local Government Area, Joseph Keffi, were unsuccessful.

The latest tragedy comes approximately six months after the Benue State Government announced stricter safety measures aimed at reducing recurring boat accidents across the state's waterways.

In January, the government launched an enforcement initiative requiring the use of life jackets and compliance with other safety regulations for boat operators and passengers.

The incident is likely to renew concerns about water transportation safety, enforcement of regulations, emergency response capacity, and the vulnerability of riverine communities across Benue State.