Taraba State Commissioner for Special Duties and Social Development, Saviour Noku, says at least 20 bodies have been recovered from a boat accident that occured on October 28, 2023, in the Mayo-Renewo-Karim Lamido Waterway in River Benue.

Noku made this known on Saturday, 4 November 2023, during a condolence visit to the families of the victims of the tragic occurrence in the Binneri hamlet of the State’s Karim Lamido Local Government Area.

While condoling with the relatives of the victims and the residents of the town, the state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Aminu Alkali, expressed regret over the incident and issued a government ban on night travels on waterways across the state to prevent a recurrence.

While blaming the event on fishermen’s attempts to capture fish, the deputy governor ordered that all obstacles on the rivers be removed within seven days.

“This sad development is unacceptable. This incident we were told was caused by barricades on the waterways by fishermen.

“Government has, therefore, banned all night journeys on the waterways, and all the barricades on the waterways must be cleared within seven days.

“In addition, all passengers must put on lifejackets before boarding boats in the state. And henceforth, manifest of passengers onboard boats must be taken before setting out,” he said.

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Reports revealed that on 28 October 2023 a boat carrying 104 passengers, mostly women and children, sank in the River Benue while returning from the Mayo-Renewo fish market in Ardo-Kola Local Government to Binneri in the State’s Karim Lamido Local Government Area.