The bodies of three medical students who tragically drowned in Calabar, Cross River State, have been successfully retrieved from the waters of Marina Resort, Calabar.
According to a statement by the Ahmadu Bello University Medical Students’ Association, the bodies were recovered during the early hours of Monday. Among the victims were two final-year medical students from Ahmadu Bello University, identified as Mustapha Tukur and Kabiru Hamza. Tukur had held the position of vice president within the medical students’ association at the university. Premium Times reported.
The association expressed deep sorrow over the loss of these exceptional individuals who were known for their dedication, compassion, and academic achievements. Both students had a promising future ahead of them, and their passing deeply affected their families, classmates, professors, and all those associated with the medical program. The statement emphasized that despite their painful departure, Tukur and Hamza had lived meaningful and impactful lives. Their contributions to society were revered, as they left a positive mark wherever they went.
In addition to the two Ahmadu Bello University students, the third victim was a medical student from the University of Uyo. These three young individuals were part of a larger group of medical students from different universities across Nigeria who had gathered in Calabar for a national convention organized by the students’ medical association of the University of Calabar.
The president of the host medical students’ association, Emmanuel Ushie, confirmed the identities of the victims, with two being from Ahmadu Bello University and one from the University of Uyo.
Cross River State police have verified the recovery of the three bodies. The unfortunate incident occurred when the students were on a boat cruise to explore the city. Tragically, their speedboat capsized on Saturday, leading to the initial declaration of the three students as missing. Thankfully, 11 of their colleagues were rescued from the incident.
Following this heartbreaking event, Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State took immediate action by ordering an indefinite suspension of all cruise boat operations at Marina Resort in Calabar, prioritizing the safety of future visitors.
