By Peter Duru, Makurdi
The Benue State government has suspended the Buruku crossing point branch of the Nigeria Union of Maritime Workers, NUMW, following Saturday’s boat mishap, with several passengers still unaccounted for.
The state Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Denis Iyaghigba, ordered the immediate suspension of the union after conducting an on-the-spot assessment of the scene of the accident.
The Commissioner also ordered the suspension of the line operator and directed the arrest and detention of the boat skipper involved in the mishap.
The measures, according to the government, were part of immediate steps to prevent a recurrence of the incident and ensure compliance with safety regulations at the state’s waterways.
The government, in a statement issued by the Head, Media and Public Orientation, Office of the Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Lubem Gena, said the Ministry had activated its search and rescue operations following the accident.
It said the search operation was being conducted in collaboration with local divers to intensify efforts to locate passengers who remained unaccounted for.
According to the statement, “the Benue state government has suspended the Buruku crossing point branch of the Nigeria Union of Maritime Workers, NUMW, following Saturday’s boat mishap in which several passengers remain unaccounted for despite the rescue of others.”
The Commissioner, who visited the scene of the incident, also directed that the line operator be suspended while the boat skipper be arrested and detained pending further investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.
The statement quoted Iyaghigba as saying that the government was determined to establish what led to the mishap 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,” the Commissioner said.
He disclosed that an inter-ministerial committee had also been constituted to investigate the incident and establish its immediate, remote and underlying causes.
Iyaghigba said the committee would interrogate the circumstances surrounding the mishap and make recommendations aimed at strengthening safety standards at river crossing points across the state.
He further ordered strict compliance with the mandatory use of life jackets at all river crossing points in the state.
According to him, the directive was part of measures to strengthen safety and protect passengers using waterways across Benue.
The Commissioner also raised concern over an abandoned barge at the crossing point which was believed to have contributed to the accident. He consequently 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 statement said the Commissioner would work closely with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, during the week to further interrogate the circumstances surrounding the accident and strengthen safety measures across the state’s waterways.
“The government said further details would be made available, but at the moment, investigations and rescue efforts continue,” the statement added.
The latest development followed the boat mishap at the Buruku crossing point on Saturday morning where a wooden boat conveying passengers capsized while crossing the River Katsina-Ala.
Several passengers were rescued following the accident, while others were reported missing, prompting the activation of search and rescue operations by the state government.
