Vehicle plunges into River Benue, kills eight mourners

From Gabriel Agbo, Makurdi

A vehicle conveying eight mourners from one family to a burial has plunged into River Dura in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue state, killing the entire occupants. 

The deceased  mourners were identified as members of the Kyegh family, had recently lost a family member and fixed the burial for Friday (today) and were travelling for the burial  when the accident happened.

A local who spoke with newsmen in Makurdi on condition of anonymity explained that the victims were being  conveyed together for the burial of a relative when the accident happened.

“The vehicle conveying them plunged into River Dura in Kwande LGA and they all lost their lives.

“The shocking incident sent waves of grief across their community, leaving neighbours and relatives lamenting over the scale of the loss,” he said.

"The Chairman of Vandeikya Local Government, Mr. Dennis Guda, visited the bereaved family. He said the incident was “a heartbreaking tragedy that has thrown the entire Vandeikya Local Government into deep mourning.”

"The Chairman consoled the family and also settled all the mortuary bills and donated eight caskets to support the family in preparing for the burial of the deceased.

“No family deserves to go through such unimaginable tragedy by themselves. We are one people, and their pain is our pain,” he said,