Eight pupils drown in Akwa Ibom river

By tatafo on July 26, 2015 

Eight pupils, who were returning from a primary school in Ikot Abia-Enyie in Nsit Atai Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State recently, drowned in Atang river.
The river is said to have partitioned Ikot Abia-Enyie village into two; with all the facilities in the area – a health centre, a primary and a secondary school, located at the other side of the river.
The chairman of the village council, Chief Etop Umanah, who conducted newsmen round the area on Friday, said the pupils drowned in the water following the downpour which led to the river overflowing its banks.

“This village, Abia-Enyie, lost eight children to Atang River this year as they were returning from school following a downpour which aided the river to overflow its bank. Last year, we lost three pupils and a pregnant woman in the same manner.
“The village is one village; it is split by this river. All the facilities of this village – a health centre, a primary and a secondary school – are all sited at the other side of the river. We cannot stop the children from going to school,” he said