An 18-year-old boy simply identified as Shadrach on Wednesday drowned in River Benue.
According to eyewitness, the young man who was a 100-level student of the Benue State University had gone to the river at the Wadata area of Makurdi metropolis alongside his relatives to wash clothes when the incident happened.
Also a resident of the area, who gave his name as Elijah, said the deceased lived in another part of the capital city but just returned to the family house only a few days ago following the death of his grandfather on May 7, 2020.
“It was while he was washing the clothes that he slipped into the river. His two relatives immediately dived into the water to rescue him, and rush him to the hospital where he later died. His body has been deposited in the mortuary,” Elijah said.
Another neighbour, who identified herself as Hassanah, said she saw the late undergraduate within his grandfather’s compound at about 9.30am.
“The boy (deceased) wasn’t living here, he only came to the family house following the death of his grandfather last Thursday.
“ The deceased grandfather hasn’t even been buried before this (death of the undergraduate) incident occurred,” she added.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said the young lad was rescued alive from the water but died later at the hospital.
“Yes, it happened but the young man of 18 was brought out of the water alive before he died in the hospital,” Anene said.
