Two teenagers have been confirmed dead over the weekend after they drowned at the Mkar Hills Dam in Gboko, the headquarters of Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State.
It was gathered that a 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.
