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See the Numbers of Teenagers Drown in Benue Dam and Stream

Published by Tope Fakinlede on June 26th, 2024.

See the Numbers of Teenagers Drown in Benue Dam and Stream

Dam and stream

Tragedy struck in Gboko, the headquarters of Gboko Local Government Area in Benue State, as two teenagers drowned in separate incidents at Mkar Hills Dam and Kontien stream.

The first incident involved 12-year-old Kumater Kachii of Trinity Primary School’s street, Akaajime, Gboko. On Saturday, June 22, 2024, Kumater went to collect firewood at Mkar Hill with his siblings. After gathering the firewood, they decided to swim in a nearby dam, where Kumater tragically drowned. His mother, Mrs. Veronica Sesugh, reported that local farmers and youths from Mkar helped recover his body. It was brought to their residence in Akaajime before being taken to his hometown, Branch Kunav in Vandekya Local Government Area, for burial.

The following day, another teenager, 13-year-old Aondosoo Ansambe from Jerusalem Street, Akaajime, Gboko, drowned in the Kontien stream. He had gone swimming with friends on Sunday morning, June 23, while his parents were attending morning mass. Eyewitnesses, Mrs. Mary Ioryange and Avalumun Hembaor, stated that Akaajime youths and passersby recovered Aondosoo’s lifeless body and returned it to his family. Aondosoo, a primary pupil at Vaxtee Nursery and Primary School, Akaajime, will be buried in Mayongo, Kunav, Vandekya Local Government Area.

In response to these incidents, community leaders, including Elder Tyover Akaajime, Hon. Smith Akom Takema, and Youth Leader Butty Shima Ukor, urged authorities to investigate the causes of frequent drownings in the area. They also appealed to parents and residents to warn their children against swimming and other potentially dangerous activities.