16-Year-Old Drowns While Swimming in Rivers State

On Saturday, a tragic incident occurred in Ogoloma, Okrika Local Government Area, Rivers State, where a 16-year-old boy named Miebaka Koko drowned while swimming with friends. The group entered the river at approximately 1:30 PM when Koko was swept away by strong currents.

Eyewitnesses reported that his friends ran to seek help after realizing he was in distress. An attempt to rescue him was made by a man who saw Koko's hand above the water, but the strong current prevented a successful rescue.

The body of the boy has not yet been recovered, which is often challenging in the area due to the river's depth. Igw Godswil, a representative from the Civilian Joint Task Force, attributed the incident to increased river depth caused by dredging activities.

He urged parents to be cautious and monitor their children's swimming activities, particularly in dredged areas. No formal complaint has been lodged with the police, but investigations are ongoing.