A tragic incident occurred on Tuesday in Ribang (Mbang) village, Kauru Local Government Area, Kaduna State, resulting in the loss of six young lives.
The teenagers, all students of Government Secondary School Fadan Chawai, drowned in the Mbang River while returning from a Junior WAEC exam at approximately 5:30 p.m.
The victims, identified as Manasseh Monday (16), Musa John (16), Pius David (15), Monday Ayuba (16), David Danlami (19), and Yahuza Audu (16), had just finished their West African Junior School Examination. Their deaths have sent shockwaves through the community, leaving families and friends in mourning.
Pastor Simon Ishaku, the National Public Relations Officer of Ribang Development Association, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview.
Ishaku said: “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.”
As of now, three bodies have been recovered and buried amidst tears, while three remain missing, with locals unable to recover them from the river.
The Mbang River has a history of being a death trap for the community, which lacks access to essential facilities like schools and hospitals.
Pastor Ishaku appealed to the authorities, stating, “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.”
The Kaduna State Police Command and the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency have yet to issue any official statement on the incident.
This tragic event underscores the urgent need for improved infrastructure and access to essential services in the community. The loss of these young lives highlights the challenges faced by many rural areas in Nigeria.
