Rita Odafe
Over the weekend, a heartbreaking incident occurred at the Mkar Hills Dam in Gboko, Benue State, resulting in the tragic deaths of two teenagers.
The first victim, 12-year-old Kumater Kachii, drowned while swimming in the dam after going to fetch firewood with his siblings.
Despite efforts by locals to recover Kumater’s body, he could not be saved and was taken to his family’s residence before being transported for burial.
The second victim, 13-year-old Master Aondosoo Ansambe, drowned in Kontien Stream during a swimming outing with friends while his parents were at church.
Efforts by witnesses and community members led to the recovery of Master Ansambe’s body, which was then handed over to his family for final rites.
Stakeholders in the Akaajime community expressed concerns over the lack of parental supervision during such outings and appealed for investigations into the unfortunate incidents.
They urged parents to be more vigilant and cautioned children against risky activities around the dam area.
The Mkar University management acknowledged the assistance provided by local groups in the recovery operations.
