By Godwin Akor, Makurdi
Family of the 26 persons that lost their lives in a boat mishap on River Benue in Makurdi, the state capital Sunday afternoon, have intensified search to recover remains.of the rest of the 23 young boys and girls.
The EYEWITNESS gathered that 26 children and youths of Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Adeke in Makurdi were on their way to an annual conference known as New Life for All when a boat in which they were traveling capsized midstream around Ijaha community.
The victims were crossing from Agbor, Innyongu Area of Wadata to a village in an island opposite Kwaghter called Ole-Gabu for their Annual Church Retreat.
It was further gathered that the victims were children and relations of Mobile Policemen who reside at the MOPOL 13 Barracks, Adeke Makurdi. Most of these Mobile Policemen were said to be on special duty in the North East leaving their wives and children in Makurdi.
Although, the state Police Command had earlier confirmed that 21 persons were missing in the boat mishap and that the boat was conveying members of ECAN Church Ijaha, the victims were later discovered to be children and youths of ECWA Church, Adeke.
At the time of filing this report, only one corpse of a female victim had been recovered while families of other victims were making frantic efforts through local divers and Marine Police to recover their corpses.
When our Correspondent visited the Barracks Monday morning, mourners had besieged the place and were seen consoling families some of whom lost five, three and two children as well as a child to the boat mishap.
District Church Council (DCC) Secretary of ECWA Church, Rev. Benjamin Dooga, who led all Pastors of the District to commiserate with families of victims, told newsmen that as sad as the incidence was, the Church had surrendered to the will of God who knows and understands all things.
“The church as believers in Jesus believes God is Supreme and no human can question his authority; since we are human
we cannot understand what has happened but He understands”, Dooga noted.
“What has happened is for the good of the Church. Pastors of EWCA within Makurdi have come to identify with the affected families; we should all know that this world is nothing, so, people should come back to God because we don’t know when we will leave this planet”, he added.
At the time of filing this report, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Serwuese Catherine Anene confirmed that three corpses had so far been recovered from the river while efforts are being made to recover the remaining bodies.
Meanwhile, Governor Samuel Ortom has sympathized with families of the victims of the boat mishap while crossing River Benue.
The governor, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, described the incident as painful and unfortunate and consoled ECWA Church, Adeke in Makurdi Local Government Area which members were involved in the tragic incident.
The governor urged members of Kwaghter community where the incident took place to cooperate with the police rescue team to enable it find the missing persons.
“He reminds Benue people about this year’s weather predictions on torrential rains and advises that those who travel by water should employ all safety measures to avoid unforeseen incidents”, the statement further added.
“Governor Ortom enjoins Benue people to always observe COVID-19 prevention measures by staying away from crowded places to curb the spread of the disease,” the statement also read in part.
