Eleven die in River Benue boat mishap

GUMA, Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom’s local council, was thrown into mourning, as not less than 11 persons lost their lives yesterday night after a boat capsized.

At the time of filling this report, it was revealed that three out of the deaths were elders, who were stormed to death by the irate youths as being responsible for the mysterious deaths.

Sole administrator of the local council area, Mr. Anthony Shawon, who made the disclosure to The Guardian, said the boat, which was conveying mourners was overloaded when it capsized near Kaambe crossing point of river Benue at Gbajimba.

Shawon attributed the cause of the capsize to heavy wind, adding that most of the mourners, who were heavily drunk, refused to heed to advise of the boat paddlers, who had insisted they would ferry some number of persons across and return for others.

Angered by the incessant incident, youths in the area in a mob protest made bonfire, while alleging that the incident was caused by some elders’ witchcraft.

Shawon informed that three elders were stone to death and their houses burnt, while the district head of Gbajimba Gwatse Akaahena had the windscreen of his car smashed by the irate youths.

“On arrival in Gbajimba, I saw there was protest as the youths made bonfire alleging that the incident has a spiritual connotation. I tried to calm them down.

“But the went wild pursing every elder in the area. I then saw another group of Indian hemp smokers with matchete parading the area. I reported the incident to the soldiers and mobile police who swiftly intervened and restored security to the area.” Shawon said.

According to him, no arrest has been made at the time of the incident.Meanwhile, Benue State Police Public Relations’ Officer, Moses Yamu, who confirmed the mob action in Gbajimba, said no person has been arrested, adding that normalcy has since been restored to the area, while investigation into the crisis has commenced.