Ex-Senator, PDP chieftain escape death in Benue boat mishap – Vanguard
November 17, 2009 by Bunmi Awolusi
A former Senator who represented Benue North-West in the National Assembly, Senator Fred Orti and a People’s Democratic Party PDP bigwig in Benue State, Chief Simon Joseph Akure, weekend, escaped death by the whiskers when a boat they were traveling with capsized in the middle of River Katsina-Ala, in Benue State.
Senator Orti and his friend were said to be on their way to Anyii in Logo Local Government Area of the state to attend Governor Gabriel Suswam’s 45th birthday anniversary.
Vanguard gathered that the twosome had boarded a locally made canoe at the Buruku axis of River Katsina-Ala, and were being ferried along with two Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV) to the Logo area when midway into the journey the canoe caved in and ran aground.
An eye witness further disclosed that the incident generated yells and out cry from passengers who were on both sides of the river bank, prompting the intervention of the local ferry operators.
The victims were said to have been rescued from drowning when everyone had lost hope of their survival.
