By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Six Junior secondary school, (JSS) students have been reportedly drown in the Mbang river in Ribang village, Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, while returning back home from a Junior WAEC exams.
Eyewitness said the sad incident occurred on Tuesday, at about 5:30 Pm, in the area when the victims were returning home after writing the exams.
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 their Junior West African School Examination
The National Public Relations Officer of Ribang Development Association, Comr. Simon Ishaku Chinge, who confirmed the incident to newsmen via a telephone on Wednesday, said that 3 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 morning time with full of hope and excitement while their parents went to farm with the hope of reuniting with them after written their papers of the day, only to meet their untimely death”, according the him.
“The Mbang river has been a death trapped on our people over the years”, he said, noting before the community could access any school or any hospital facility they’ve to travel for about 8 kilometers.
“We’re calling on the Federal Government, Governor Uba Sani, Sen. Sunday Katung and our House of Representative member 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, is yet to confirm the report, when contacted.
The Zonal Coordinator, Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Zone one, Mubarak Muhammad, who promised to confirm the incident and get back to newsmen, was yet to do so as at the time of filing this report.
