A funeral procession turned tragic in Adamawa State on Tuesday when a boat transporting mourners capsized on the River Benue, claiming the lives of two family members.
The victims were identified as David Ngwala, a renowned traditional music producer, and his niece. They were on their way to bury David’s elder brother, Gabriel Ngwala, in Dilli, Demsa Local Government Area.
According to reports, Gabriel’s remains had been brought from Lagos for burial, scheduled for Wednesday, July 2. David had earlier picked up his niece from Jalingo, Taraba State, to attend the ceremony. The family opted to travel by canoe from the Mbula River bank to Borrong, a route commonly used by locals.
However, the journey took a tragic turn when strong winds overturned the canoe mid-river. Both David and his niece drowned, and their bodies were not recovered until over 24 hours later.
In the wake of the incident, the traditional ruler of Mbula Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Bwaltam Biyapo Bently—who also served as the Chief Mourner—intervened swiftly. He issued a royal decree making the use of life jackets mandatory for all river crossings within his domain.
Addressing mourners at the riverbank, the monarch offered prayers and called for divine comfort for the grieving family, the Dilli community, and the wider Mbula Kingdom.
The heartbreaking event has renewed calls for urgent improvements to water transport safety in rural and riverine communities across Adamawa State.
