A heartbreaking incident has occurred in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, where a 200-level Chemical Engineering student of the Federal University, Otuoke, tragically drowned in the Ekoli Creek after reportedly taking on a bet worth N300. The victim, whose identity has yet to be confirmed, is said to have disappeared beneath the water while attempting to swim across the creek on Sunday morning.
According to sources familiar with the incident, the student had engaged in a wager with his peers, asserting that he could successfully swim across the river. A group of students allegedly pooled together N300 each as the stake for the bet. However, tragedy struck when the young man, in the process of proving his claim, submerged underwater and failed to resurface.
An eyewitness, also a student of the university, confirmed the distressing development, stating, “Yesterday morning, a 200-level Chemical Engineering student challenged his coursemates that he could swim across the river. They all contributed N300 for the bet. Unfortunately, while swimming, he went under the water and has not been seen since.”
As of Monday, efforts to recover the student’s body had yet to yield any results. The grim incident has left the university community in shock, with many lamenting the reckless nature of such wagers and the tragic loss of a promising young life.
Attempts by Hobnob News to contact the university’s Public Relations Officer, Ms. Mercy Ekott, were unsuccessful, as she did not respond to calls. Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State Police Command has yet to officially confirm the incident. When reached for comments, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Musa Mohammed, stated that he had not been briefed about the case but assured that he would provide updates once more information became available.
The tragic drowning has raised concerns about student safety, peer pressure, and the risks associated with engaging in dangerous bets. Authorities are being urged to conduct further investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident while efforts continue to recover the missing student’s body.
