By PAMELA EBOH, AWKA

Three students of Community Secondary School, Atani, Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, have reportedly died when the boat ferrying them capsized in River Niger.

The deceased were on Monday, March 23 declared missing after they failed to return home from school.

News Expressgathered that the deceased who were children of one Mr Chukwuemeka of Urum-Etiti in Anam, Anambra-West Local Government Area of Anambra were on their way home when they met their untimely death.

It was also learnt that they were five in the canoe when it capsized but two managed to escape death.

Confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Anambra State command, Mr Edwin Okadigbo, said that the students were on March 23, declared missing during which they were contacted.

He said: “Recall that on 23/03/2020 at about 18:00hrs, following a distress call, NSCDC Ogbaru Divisional office was alerted that three students of Community secondary school, Atani capsized and were declared missing while peddling canoe on River Niger to their house.

“Preliminary Investigation revealed the three students on their way from Ochuche in Ogbaru LGA of Anambra state were children of one Mr Chukwuemeka of Urum-Etiti, Anam in Anambra West but residing at Ochuche.

“The cause of the incident was attributed to river turbulence, following the heavy downpour of March 23 2020.

“Two out of the five students that were in the canoe, however, managed to survive the capsizing.”

Okadigbo said that efforts are being intensified at recovering the missing three. “The State Commandant of NSCDC Comdt. David Bille has ordered for discreet investigation surrounding the incident,” he disclosed.