Three siblings have reportedly drowned on the River Niger in Anambra State while leaving school over coronavirus scare.
The siblings, it was gathered, were asked to go home on Monday by their school’s management following a directive by the state government that all schools in the state should close as a measure to contain the coronavirus pandemic.
They reportedly drowned on the River Niger during a canoe capsize on their way home.
It was gathered that they were children of one Mr Chukwuemeka of Urum-Etiti in Anam, in the Anambra-West Local Government Area of the state.
A source who preferred anonymity told our correspondent that
“They were students of Community Secondary School, Atani, Ogbaru Local Government Area.
“They were on their way home from school at Ochuche, a riverine community in the same council area when they met their untimely death.
“They were dismissed from school because of this coronavirus pandemic. So on their way home the met their untimely death.”
The Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps,Anambra State command, Mr Edwin Okadigbo, confirmed the incident.
He said the students were on March 23, declared missing.
“Following a distress call, NSCDC Ogbaru divisional office was alerted that three students of Community Secondary School, Atani capsized and were declared missing while peddling canoe on River Niger to their house,” he said.
“Preliminary investigation revealed the three students on their way to Ochuche in Ogbaru LGA of Anambra State were children of one Mr Chukwuemeka of Urum-Etiti, Anam in Anambra West but residing at Ochuche.
“Cause of the incident was attributed to river turbulence, following the downpour of March 23, 2020.
“Two out of the five students that were in the canoe, however, managed to survive the capsizing.
“Efforts are being intensified at recovering the missing three.
“The State Commandant of NSCDC, David Bille has ordered for discreet investigation surrounding the incident,” the PRO stated.
