Six school children tragically drowned on Tuesday evening in Ribang village, Kauru local government area of Kaduna State. They were returning home after completing their West African Junior School Examination (Junior WAEC). The victims, Manasseh Monday (16 yrs), Musa John (16 yrs), Pius David (15 yrs), Monday Ayuba (16 yrs), David Danlami (19 yrs), and Yahuza Audu (16 yrs), lost their lives in the Mbang River at Ribang Village.
These young students attended Government Secondary School, Fadan Chawai. The incident was confirmed by Pastor Simon Ishaku, the National Public Relations Officer of Ribang Development Association. He conveyed the heartbreaking news via telephone on Wednesday, stating that three bodies had been recovered and buried amidst sorrowful scenes. Locals continued searching for the remaining three bodies in the river.
“The school children left their homes with hope and excitement, while their parents worked in the fields, expecting to reunite with them after their exams. Tragically, they met an untimely end,” Ishaku lamented.
For years, the Mbang River has posed significant dangers to the community, often leading to fatal accidents. The lack of infrastructure compounds the community’s challenges, requiring an 8-kilometer journey to access schools and medical facilities.
“We urgently appeal to the Federal Government, Governor Uba Sani, Senator Sunday Katung, and our House of Representatives members to assist us promptly. Our community desperately needs schools, hospitals, access roads, and bridges to alleviate our plight,” Simon urged.
Efforts to obtain official reactions from the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, and the Zonal Coordinator of Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency Zone One, Mubarak Muhammad, were ongoing at the time of reporting, but no responses had been received.
