Six teenagers have reportedly drowned in the Mbang River on Tuesday in Ribang (Mbang) village, Kauru Local Government Area, Kaduna State, while returning from a Junior WAEC exam at about 5:30 p.m.
The victims, identified as Manasseh Monday (16 yrs), Musa John (16 yrs), Pius David (15 yrs), Monday Ayuba (16 yrs), David Danlami (19 yrs), and Yahuza Audu (16 yrs), were students of Government Secondary School Fadan Chawai writing the West African Junior School Examination.
Confirming the development to PUNCH on Wednesday, the National Public Relations Officer of Ribang Development Association, Pastor Simon Ishaku, disclosed that three dead bodies have already been recovered and buried amidst tears.
He explained that, as of now, there are still three missing as locals have not been able to recover them out of the river.
“The school children left their homes full of hope and excitement while their parents went to the farm with the hope of reuniting with them after writing their papers of the day, only to meet their untimely death.
“The Mbang River has been a death trap for our people over the years, noting before the community can access any school or any hospital facility they’ve to travel for about 8 kilometres.
“We’re calling on the Federal Government, Governor Uba Sani, Senator Sunday Katung and our House of Representative members as a matter of urgency, to kindly assist us with school, hospital, access road and bridge in order to bring succour to our community,” Simon appealed.
The Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, did not respond to calls and text messages sent to him by our Correspondent as of the time of filing this report.
When contacted, the Zonal Coordinator of Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency Zone One, Mubarak Muhammad, said he would confirm the incident and get back but had yet to do so as of press time.
