The lifeless body of a 200-level Chemical Engineering student from the Federal University, Otuoke, who tragically drowned in Ekoli Creek, Yenagoa, has been recovered nearly 24 hours after he went missing.
The student’s remains were retrieved from the water on Monday evening following an unsuccessful attempt to swim across the creek for a N300 bet.
According to eyewitnesses, the student jumped into the creek but never resurfaced, prompting immediate search efforts. His body was eventually located by divers after an extensive search.
In a poignant display of grief, students of the university gathered for a candlelight procession in his honour later that evening, paying tribute to the life lost in such a heartbreaking manner.
When reached for a comment, Mercy Ekott, the university’s Public Relations Officer, declined to speak on the matter, stating via text message, “Sorry, but I haven’t been authorized to speak on the matter.”
The Bayelsa State Police Command has confirmed the incident.
The Bayelsa Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Musa Mohammed, explained that the deceased had gone to the river with a friend to bathe when the drowning occurred. Mohammed said investigations are underway to determine the full details of the tragic event.
“The deceased had gone to the river with a friend to bathe. Unfortunately, in the process, he jumped into the water and drowned. We urge students, especially young people, to exercise caution around rivers, whether they know how to swim or not,” Mohammed said in a statement.
Sources close to the incident claim the student had wagered he could swim across the creek for the N300 bet. However, midway through the challenge, he submerged and never resurfaced, leading to his untimely death.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of young people around bodies of water and serves as a grim reminder of the dangers of reckless behaviour, especially in unfamiliar or hazardous environments.
