A devastating accident occurred on Sunday evening in Obagaji, the administrative center of Agatu Local Government Area in Benue State, when a small boat carrying a family of seven capsized, resulting in the tragic loss of five siblings.
In a phone conversation, a local resident named John recounted that the boat, which was transporting a man, his wife, and their five children, suddenly tipped over and sank.
He explained that while the parents were fortunate enough to be rescued alive, their five children tragically drowned before any assistance could arrive.
Another witness, Ameh Ejeh, shared that local divers and community members quickly initiated rescue operations; however, all the children recovered were pronounced dead at the scene.
This sorrowful event has deeply affected the community, with many neighbors visiting the grieving family’s home to express their sympathies and support.
Several locals who spoke with our reporter urged government officials to implement stricter safety regulations on waterways and to supervise boat operators more closely to prevent such disasters in rural areas.
