Nine corps members drown during picnic in Taraba

Nine corps members who were swimming during a picnic party, in River Mayo Celbe, Taraba state, have drowned.

The police have attributed their drowning to the sudden increase in the volume of the water.

David Missal, Taraba police spokesman, said the incident occurred on Saturday, adding that seven corpses had so far been recovered.

“Information available to our disposal reveals that 22 youth corps members serving in the state were on a picnic party in River Mayo-Selbe in Gashaka LGA on Saturday when the incident happened,” Missal said.

“We were made to understand that while they were swimming, there was a sudden increase in the volume of water which carried nine of them away.

“We have so far recovered seven corpses while the search for the two remaining corpses is still in progress.”

Florence Yaakugh, NYSC state coordinator, also confirmed the incident.

Yaakugh said the search for the other two bodies was still ongoing by the locals in collaboration with security agencies and the NYSC.

The coordinator said the NYSC would soon have the identity of all the Corps members involved and make such known appropriately.

“We have information indicating that about nine of our Corps members were drowned in Gashaka on Saturday,” she said.

“So far, seven bodies have been recovered and we are working with other relevant persons to recover the rest and to identify the persons.

“This is a very sad development and the entire NYSC family in Taraba state is already thrown into deep mourning.”