A middle-aged farmer has lost five of his six children in a tragic boat accident that occurred on Sunday evening in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.
According to local sources, the man and his children were returning home from their farm when the canoe conveying them capsized in the river.
It was gathered that the family of seven had gone to harvest cassava, but on their way back, the canoe sank. Only one of the children reportedly survived the accident.
A resident identified simply as Ameh told journalists in a telephone conversation on Monday that local divers and community members immediately launched rescue efforts.
He said the incident had thrown the Obagaji community into mourning.
Confirming the tragedy, Chairman of Agatu LGA, Melvin James, said seven people were on board the canoe when it capsized, resulting in the deaths of five children.
“The man and six of his children had gone to the farm to harvest crops, but on their way back, the canoe conveying them capsized and they drowned. Though the canoe was overloaded, which might have caused the mishap, the father and one of the children survived,” James said.
He added that the farmer’s wife was not in the canoe when the incident occurred and expressed condolences to the bereaved family, describing the tragedy as “deeply unfortunate.”
Boat mishaps are common in Benue State, particularly in riverine communities across Logo, Buruku, and Agatu LGAs.
In 2024, 14 mourners returning from a burial in Logo LGA drowned after their boat capsized on River Buruku, while another accident in December of the same year claimed 20 lives — mostly women and children — in Agatu.
Meanwhile, efforts to reach the state police spokesperson, SP Udeme Edet, for comments were unsuccessful as her phone rang unanswered.