Nine members of the National Youth Service
Corps (NYSC) who are currently serving in Taraba State on Saturday drowned in
River Mayo-Selbe in Gashaka Local government Area of the state.
Corps (NYSC) who are currently serving in Taraba State on Saturday drowned in
River Mayo-Selbe in Gashaka Local government Area of the state.
Taraba State Police Police Public Relations Officer, ASP David Missal,
who confirmed the death of nine out of the 22 corps members who were swimming
in River Mayo-Selbe, said seven bodies have so far been recovered from the
incident.
who confirmed the death of nine out of the 22 corps members who were swimming
in River Mayo-Selbe, said seven bodies have so far been recovered from the
incident.
“Information available revealed that 22 youth corps members had gone on
a picnic party in River Mayo-Selbe in Gashaka LGA on Saturday when the incident
happened.
a picnic party in River Mayo-Selbe in Gashaka LGA on Saturday when the incident
happened.
“We were made to understand that while they were swimming in the
river, there was sudden upsurge in the volume of water, which carried them
away.
river, there was sudden upsurge in the volume of water, which carried them
away.
Nine of them drowned, while others managed to escape.
We have so far recovered seven bodies, while the search for the
two remaining is still in progress,” Missal said.
two remaining is still in progress,” Missal said.
The state NYSC coordinator, Mrs. Florence Yaakugh, also confirmed
the incident, which she described as “most unfortunate.”
the incident, which she described as “most unfortunate.”
Yaakugh also confirmed that seven bodies have been recovered,
while the search for the other two bodies was still ongoing by the locals in
collaboration with security agencies and the NYSC.
while the search for the other two bodies was still ongoing by the locals in
collaboration with security agencies and the NYSC.
“It is a very sad development and we would soon have the identity
of all the corps members involved in the accident and make such information
known appropriately.
of all the corps members involved in the accident and make such information
known appropriately.
We have very sketchy information indicating that nine of our corps
members drowned in Gashaka yesterday.
members drowned in Gashaka yesterday.
“So far, seven bodies have been recovered and we are working with
relevant persons to recover the rest of the bodies and to identify them.
relevant persons to recover the rest of the bodies and to identify them.
This is a very sad development and the entire NYSC family in
Taraba State is already thrown into deep mourning,” she said.
Taraba State is already thrown into deep mourning,” she said.
This incident is coming exactly three months after Mr. Ojeshola
Taofeek, a member of the NYSC who just passed out from service, drowned in
Nembe River in the Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
Taofeek, a member of the NYSC who just passed out from service, drowned in
Nembe River in the Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The tragic incident occurred when the deceased, who hailed
from Osun State, went to the Ogbolomabiri jetty to take pictures of the
waterside as part of his fun memories during his service.
from Osun State, went to the Ogbolomabiri jetty to take pictures of the
waterside as part of his fun memories during his service.
It was reported that Taofeek was preparing to go home after
completing a skill acquisition training on tailoring, which he started for
self-development, before his demise.
completing a skill acquisition training on tailoring, which he started for
self-development, before his demise.
According to a source, the demise had collected his vocational
certificate on tailoring two days before the unfortunate incident.
certificate on tailoring two days before the unfortunate incident.
“This corps member passed out among the recent set this year. He
bought crayfish from my neighbour in preparation to return home joyfully.
Unfortunately, he accompanied his colleagues to a waterfront (Jetty).
bought crayfish from my neighbour in preparation to return home joyfully.
Unfortunately, he accompanied his colleagues to a waterfront (Jetty).
He set himself at the edge of the jetty to take a photograph
possibly with the aim of uploading on Facebook or to show his people when he
gets home on how he had safely ended his service in the riverine area.
possibly with the aim of uploading on Facebook or to show his people when he
gets home on how he had safely ended his service in the riverine area.
He fell into the river as the steps were slippery.
Indigenes rushed to the scene having heard the sorrowful shouting
for help.
for help.
They searched for him more than 30 minutes before he was finally
found.
found.
They applied all the efforts to revive him but he gave up the
ghost.”
ghost.”
The Guardian
