Six teenagers, on Tuesday drowned in Mbang river at Ribang village, Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The tragedy occurred around 5:30pm as the students were returning home from their West African Junior School Examinations.
The victims, identified as Manasseh Monday (16), Musa John (16), Pius David (15), Monday Ayuba (16), David Danlami (19) and Yahuza Audu (16), were students of Government Secondary School, Fadan Chawai.
Comrade Simon Ishaku Chinge, the national public relations officer of the Ribang Development Association, confirmed the tragic news on Wednesday. He revealed that three bodies had been recovered and buries while three others remained missing despite ongoing search efforts by the community.
“The schoolchildren left home full of hope and excitement, their parents expecting to reunite with them after their exams, only to meet their untimely death,” Chinge said.
He noted that over the years, the river had claimed numerous lives.
Reports ha it that the river is a crucial passage for the community and residents must travel approximately eight kilometres to access schools or medical facilities.
Chinge called on the federal government, Governor Uba Sani, Senator Sunday Marshall Katung of Kaduna South and their House of Representatives member to assist the community by providing a school, hospital, access road and bridge to prevent further tragedy.
Efforts to reach the police public relations officer, Kaduna State command, ASP Mansir Hassan for comments were unsuccessful as calls and messages to him went unanswered at the time of this report.