The Zone One, Zonal Coordinator of the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency, Mubarak Muhammad, has confirmed that eight students drowned while returning from writing Junior WASSCE exams at Government Secondary School, Fadan Chawai, Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
PUNCH Online earlier reported that some students of Government Secondary School Fadan Chawai drowned in the Mbang River in Ribang Village, Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Speaking with PUNCH Online while reacting to the sad incident on Wednesday, Muhammad disclosed that four dead bodies have been recovered, two missing, while two were rescued.
“I received the unfortunate information from the Executive Vice Chairman of the Local Government Area at about 3 pm.
“Because of the sad incident, we’re piloting a program tagged: School Based Disaster Risk Reduction Clubs in memory of the victim’s School.
“We’re visiting the family victims and the School to see our next line of action as regards the unfortunate incidents,” Mubarak added.
The Public Relations Officer of the Ribang Development Association, Simon Ishaku, lamented that “Ribang” is their tribe living in about five communities without any basic infrastructure.
“The only hospital facility existing was the one brought by the missionaries and the schools have been delipidated without structures.
“For you to access those villages you’ve to cross a river, hence why I said the river has been a death trap on our communities,” Simon stated.
He maintained that their Villages have been neglected over the years, and some of the Schools are rebuilt through community effort.
“We hope that the sacrifice of these children will bring succour to the communities through Government quick interventions.” Simon prayed.
However, when contacted to confirm if the rest of the dead bodies had been recovered, the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, responded by saying, “No, they have not, thank you.”
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