The National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, has declared three days of mourning for the corps members who drowned at the Mayo-Selbe river near the Gashaka falls in Gashaka Local Government Area of Taraba State.
The Corps Director, Press and Public Relations, Mrs. Adeyemi Adenike, said this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.
She said that the nine corps members on Saturday August 4 involved in the accident left their places of primary assignments to hold a picnic at the accident site, adding that they drowned due to the sudden increase in water volume.
Adenike said that seven bodies had so far been recovered from the river by local divers and security agents, while the search for the remaining missing two corps members was ongoing.
“The entire NYSC family is shocked and saddened by the cruel twist of fate that befell our corps members.
“The corps members drowned as a result of the sudden increase in water volume and surge of river Mayo-Selbe near the Gashaka falls in Gashaka Local Government Area of Taraba.
“Seven bodies have so far been recovered from the river by local divers and security agents, while the search for the remaining two missing corps members is ongoing.
“Management has, therefore, declared three-day mourning for the souls of our departed heroes; beginning from Monday, August 6.
“Our condolences are with the families at this moment,” she said.
Adenike said that during the mourning, NYSC flags would fly half-mast nationwide.
Taraba Governor Ishaku condoles with families
Meanwhile, Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, on Monday condoled with the National Youth Service Corps and families of the corps members who died.
This is contained in a statement issued in Jalingo and signed by Ishaku’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Bala Dan-Abu.
The statement quoted Ishaku as saying: “The incident is unfortunate and regrettable.
” My sympathy goes to the families, the National Youth Service Corps and colleagues of the nine corps members who drowned during a picnic in Gashaka LGA of the state at the weekend.
“I pray God Almighty to grant the parents and relations of the deceased the fortitude to bear these painful losses.”
Ishaku advised corps members to always inform officials of the NYSC and those of their primary assignments in advance of their plans to travel and go for social outings which are prone to some hazards so that adequate security and safety covers would be made officially for them.
“This unfortunate case of drowning of young men and women could perhaps have been avoided if participants in the tragic picnic incident had involved the NYSC officials and other security agencies.
“I therefore, urge Youth Corps Members serving across the country to always involve authorities in their areas of their plans to embark on exercise and sought the company of rescue officials in case things go wrong,” the statement ended.
Nine out of 22 corps members who participated in the picnic party last Saturday had drowned in River Mayo-Selbe in Gashaka local government area of Taraba, after a sudden upsurge in the volume of water.
Local residents said there was a heavy rainfall north of the river around Mambilla Plateau, which is said to be over 7,000 feet above sea level, forcing the water to rush down to river Mayo-Selbe where the corps members were swimming.
Police and the NYSC officials said seven corpses have been recovered while the search for the remaining two is still ongoing.
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Nine corps members drown during picnic in Taraba State
By Editor
06 August 2018 | 4:21 am
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Members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)
. PHOTO: NAN
Nine members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) who are currently serving in Taraba State on Saturday drowned in River Mayo-Selbe in Gashaka Local government Area of the state.
While confirming the death of the deceased, Taraba State Police Police Public Relations Officer, ASP David Missal, had said seven bodies had so far been recovered from the incident.
“Information available revealed that 22 youth corps members had gone on a picnic party in River Mayo-Selbe in Gashaka LGA on Saturday when the incident happened.
“We were made to understand that while they were swimming in the river, there was sudden upsurge in the volume of water, which carried them away.
Nine of them drowned, while others managed to escape.
We have so far recovered seven bodies, while the search for the two remaining is still in progress,” Missal said.
The state NYSC coordinator, Mrs. Florence Yaakugh, also confirmed the incident, which she described as “most unfortunate.”
Yaakugh also confirmed that seven bodies have been recovered, while the search for the other two bodies was still ongoing by the locals in collaboration with security agencies and the NYSC.
“It is a very sad development and we would soon have the identity of all the corps members involved in the accident and make such information known appropriately.
We have very sketchy information indicating that nine of our corps members drowned in Gashaka yesterday (Saturday}.
“So far, seven bodies have been recovered and we are working with relevant persons to recover the rest of the bodies and to identify them.
“This is a very sad development and the entire NYSC family in Taraba State is already thrown into deep mourning,” she said.
This incident is coming exactly three months after Mr. Ojeshola Taofeek, a member of the NYSC who just passed out from service, drowned in Nembe River in the Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
NAN/Punch/The Guardian
