Monday, June 24, 2024 –Two teenagers drowned at the Mkar Hills Dam in Gboko, the headquarters of Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, over the weekend.
12-year-old, Kumater Kachii of Trinity
Primary School’s street, Akaajime, Gboko, went to fetch firewood at Mkar Hills
on Saturday, June 22, 2024, with his siblings.
It was reported that they proceeded to swim
in a dam at the same Mkar Hills, where Kumater Kachii drowned and died.
According to a statement by the deceased’s
mother, Mrs. Veronica Sesugh, with the help of farmers and Mkar youths, the
body of Kumater was recovered and taken to his family’s residence at Akaajime
for a brief stopover before being taken to his hometown, Branch, Kunav,
Vandekya Local Government Area of Benue for burial.
Following Kumater’s death, another teenager,
13-year-old Master Aondosoo Ansambe, drowned on Sunday.
Master Ansambe of Jerusalem Street,
Akaajime, Gboko, drowned in Kontien Stream around Akaajime-Mkar-Gboko road when
he went swimming with his friends.
Eyewitnesses, Mrs. Mary Ioryange and
Avalumun Hembaor, said the incident occurred while the parents of the deceased
were still in church for morning mass.
The lifeless body of the victim was
recovered with the help of Akaajime youths and passersby and handed over to the
family.
Master Aondosoo was a primary pupil of
Vaxtee Nursery and Primary School, Akaajime, Gboko. A family source said his
remains will be buried at Mayongo, Kunav, Vandekya Local Government Area of
Benue State.
Meanwhile, some stakeholders of the Akaajime
community, Elder Tyover Akaajime, Hon. Smith Takema, and Youth Leader Butty
Ukor, said parents have refused to heed warnings to stop their children from
social outings.
They called on security agencies and the
government to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the frequent
drowning of teenagers in the area.
The stakeholders appealed to parents and
residents of Akaajime to caution their children against swimming and other
unnecessary social outings at the Mkar Hills Dam.
The management of Mkar University, Gboko,
appreciated the Student Union Government of the institution and local fishermen
who assisted in the recovery of the bodies.
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