By Eseoghene Emuke
A 15-year-old boy simply identified as Onoriode has reportedly drowned at a stagnant River in the Ikpirima Quarters of Osubi in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State.
It was learnt that the incident occurred on Tuesday when the boy believed to be in Junior Secondary School three (JSS3) was fishing in the area.
Sources claimed that the river near the Osubi Airport had expanded as result of unchecked activities of sand dredgers within the Osubi community.
A source told WARRI TODAY the deceased was on the fishing expedition in company of three of his friends when he met his untimely dead.
Another source said owing perennial rains, the entire area had been flood and the river has also become very deep.
The late Onoriode and his three friends, who hail from Agbasa community in Warri South Local Government Area of the state, had travelled from Warri to Osubi for their fishing expedition.
“The boy simply referred as Onoriode came in company of three other children within the age brackets of 13 and 14 to fish at the borrow pit beside the Osubi Airport when the incident occurred on Tuesday.
“The deceased hailed from Agbasa area of Warri in Warri South LGA. They came to the area to fish. The place is very deep because of the dredging activities in the area”, one of the locals said.
A relative of the 15-year-old student confirmed the development amidst tears, adding that he was fishing when the suddenly drowned in the water.
The relation lamented that the news will be devastating to the family members especially their mother who is a petty trader.
A member of the community disclosed that they always record death in the area annually owing to flooding in the community.
The source, however, called on the State Government to channel the water to the existing canals in the areas to avoid more loss of lives.
Local divers were still searching for the remains of the deceased as at late Tuesday evening.
Efforts to speak with the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Onome Onowakpoyeya, proved abortive.
