- Father Loses Five Children in Canoe Mishap in Benue
- Ameh added that the Obagaji community has been thrown into mourning following the incident.
- Boat mishaps are a recurring problem in Benue State
A middle-aged man has tragically lost five of his children in a boat accident that occurred on Sunday evening in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State, Eko Hot Blog reports.
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According to local sources, the man and his six children were returning from their farm when the canoe conveying them capsized. The family had gone to harvest cassava, and on the return journey, the canoe sank. One child reportedly survived the mishap.
A source who identified himself as Ameh told journalists on Monday that local divers and community members launched immediate rescue efforts. He added that the Obagaji community has been thrown into mourning following the incident.
The Chairman of Agatu Local Government, Melvin James, confirmed the tragedy. He said:
“The man and six of his children had gone to the farm to harvest crops, but on their way back home, the canoe conveying them capsized and they drowned. Though the canoe was overloaded, which might have caused the mishap, the father and one child survived.”
He also noted that the wife was not on the canoe at the time of the accident and extended condolences to the grieving family.
Boat mishaps are a recurring problem in Benue State, particularly in coastal communities in Logo, Buruku, and Agatu LGAs. In 2024, a canoe returning from a burial in Logo capsized, resulting in 14 deaths, while in another incident two years ago, 26 passengers were rescued after a similar accident. In December 2024, another tragic boat mishap in Agatu claimed the lives of 20 traders, mostly women and children, when a wooden boat overturned in the Benue River.
The State Command Police Public Relations Officer, Udeme Edet, could not be reached for comment as her phone rang out.
