C-River Boat Cruise Mishap: Police Recover Bodies Of 3 Medical Students
BY UBON EKEANEM, CALABAR – The Cross River State Police Command on Monday confirmed recovering corpses of the three medical students involved in the Marina Resort tourist boat accident in Calabar, the State capital.
The unfortunate incident occurred on Saturday afternoon at the popular Marina Resort around the Tinapa axis in the South-South State.
Addressing journalists on the development in Calabar, the State’s Commissioner of Police, Gyogon Grimah, said the recovered bodies were those of two males and one female, all of whom were members of the Nigerian Medical Students Association (NiMSA).
CP Grimah said; “As you are all aware, on Saturday, about two days ago, at about 3 pm, there was an incident reported at the Marina Resort here in Calabar where a boat capsized. Three students were drowned and we have not rested since then. It had been rescue efforts day and night, and this morning, I wish to let you know that three bodies have now been recovered.”
The Police Chief further disclosed that the bodies were recovered by the locals with the help of the Marine Police, adding that the corpses have been taken for preservation until the government decides on the next line of action.
According to him, the locals “did a very marvelous job and they have just delivered the three bodies to us. When the bodies were sighted, our Marine Police also raced to the scene, and through joint efforts, the bodies were recovered.”
The Police Commissioner also assured that the State Governor is on top of the situation with the shutting down of the Marina Resort, adding that all necessary measures needed to safeguard lives and property in this area of the economy are being put in place by all relevant authorities.
The deceased students were part of the 14 who undertook the ill-fated boat cruise on Saturday, June 24 but were declared missing after their boat capsized at the Calabar resort while 11 of their colleagues were recused.
Drawn from different universities across the country, the medical students were in Calabar for this year’s annual NiMSA Health Week and the boat cruise on Saturday was arranged as part of their tourist attraction programme in the coastal city.
Meanwhile, the two male students from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria were Mustapha Aminu Tukur, alias TK and Kabiru Hamza, aka Sir KB, while the female victim, Aisha Ogwu Celestina, was a female student at the University of Uyo (UniUyo) in Akwa Ibom State.
Reacting to the development, Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River had on Sunday, ordered an investigation into the boat mishap, even as he expressed sadness at the turn of events.
Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Ogbeche, the Governor had charged security and rescue agencies as well as local villagers involved in the operations to spare no efforts in finding the missing students.
