The Kaduna Police Command has confirmed that eight secondary school students drowned after writing their Junior Secondary West African Examination Council (WAEC) examination, while two were rescued.
It would be recalled that the students of Government Secondary School Fadan Chawai drowned in the Mbang River in Ribang village, Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, after writing their exams.
Speaking with The Guardian while reacting to the unfortunate incident in a telephone interview, Police Spokesman ASP Mansir Hassan confirmed the incident, stating that the students drowned after writing the Junior WAEC examination.
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Hassan said, “Yes, we have received the information from our DPO, Daman Kasuwa Division, where eight students of GSS, Fadan Chawai were reported missing yesterday.”
According to him, “Investigations reveal that after writing their Junior WAEC Exams in the school around 5 pm, they drowned in the river.”
Hassan further remarked, “Investigations reveal that they drowned in the water. Four corpses were recovered, two were rescued, and two are still missing.”
Besides, the National Public Relations Officer of Ribang Development Association (RDA), Simon Ishaku Chinge, told journalists on Wednesday that three dead bodies that were earlier recovered have been buried amidst tears and wailing.
According to him, “The school children left their homes full of hope and excitement while their parents went to farm with the hope of reuniting with them after writing their papers of the day, only to meet their untimely deaths.”
Chinge said that “the Mbang River has been a death trap for our people over the years,” pointing out, “Before the community can access any school or hospital facility, they have to travel about 8 kilometres.”
“We’re calling on the Federal Government, Governor Uba Sani, Senator Sunday Katung, and our House of Representatives member, as a matter of urgency, to kindly assist us with a school, hospital, access road, and bridge to bring succour to our community,” Chinge appealed.
