Tragedy struck on Tuesday at the Ribang (Mbang) village in the Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State after six Junior Secondary School students drowned in the Mbang river while coming back after writing their West African Junior Secondary School Certificate Examination at about 5:30 pm, leaving the families in great mourning.
The victims 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), were students of Government Secondary School Fadan Chawai, writing the examination.
The National Public Relations Officer of Ribang Development Association, Pastor Simon Ishaku, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent via telephone on Wednesday, disclosed that three dead bodies had already been recovered and buried amidst tears.
He explained that as of the time of speaking with PUNCH Metro, there were still three bodies missing as locals had not been able to recover them out of the river.
“The schoolchildren 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 deathtrap for our people over the years, because before the community can access any school or any hospital facility, they’ve to travel for about eight kilometres.
“We’re calling on the Federal Government, Governor Uba Sani, Sen. Sunday Katung and our House of Representatives members as a matter of urgency, to kindly assist us with a school, hospital, access road and bridge 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.
Also, when contacted, the Zonal Coordinator, Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency, Zone One, Mubarak Muhammad, said he would confirm the incident and get back to our correspondent.
He had yet to do so as of the time of sending this report.
