Tragedy struck as six teenagers drowned in the Mbang River, Kauru Local Government Area (LGA), Kaduna State, after writing their Junior WAEC exams.
The deceased were identified as Manasseh Monday (16 years), Musa John (16 years), Pius David (15 years), Monday Ayuba (16 years), David Danlami (19 years), and Yahuza Audu (16 years). Reports indicate that the victims failed to estimate the depth of the water and drowned.
The National Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Ribang Development Association (RDA), Simon Ishaku Chinge, stated that the bodies of three students from Government Secondary School, Fadan Chawai have already been recovered and buried amidst tears.
He revealed that three students are still missing after locals failed to recover their remains from the river.
“The school children left their homes with excitement while their parents went to farm with the hope of reuniting with them after their exams, only to meet their untimely death.
“The Mbang River has been a death trap over the years, knowing full well that the community has to travel about 8 kilometres before they can access any school or hospital facility.
“We are calling on the Federal Government, Governor Uba Sani, Senator Sunday Katung, and our House of Representatives members to urgently assist us with a school, hospital, access road, and bridge to bring succour to our community,” Chinge appealed.
The Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Mansir Hassan, did not respond to calls by The Guardian for comments on the unfortunate incident at the time of filing this report.
Zonal Coordinator, Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Zone One, Mubarak Muhammad, assured that more information would be conveyed to the media as soon as possible.
It could be recalled that five students of a private secondary school, Victory College, Ungwan Yelwa in Chikun Local Government Area in Kaduna State, drowned during an excursion to River Kaduna in 2017.
