Two medical students from the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, and another from the University of Uyo Akwa Ibom State, are feared dead after their boat capsized at Marina Resort waterways in Calabar, Cross River State.
The canoe capsized with 15 passengers, including 13 medical students, in the cruise boat at around 3pm on Saturday
A Nigerian Navy team and other local divers rescued ten of the medical students.
Cross River Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary Emmanuel Ogbeche, expressed sadness and ordered an investigation into the accident.
Otu said: “As a government, our administration remains committed to protecting the sanctity of life and providing an enabling environment for business, tourism and peaceable living. Therefore, any untoward action that could derail our objective will not be tolerated.”
The chairman of Nigeria Medical Students Association (NiMSA), Egim Egbe, a student of the University of Jos, on Sunday in Calabar said the boat cruise was part of health week with the students were undertaking.
He said the boat cruise was on a tour of some tourist sites, games and dinner on Saturday night.
“We came to the Marina Resort and we had pre-informed the management that we will have a cruise boat ride amongst other experiences in the resort. We had a first set of 11 passengers that went on the ride and returned safely. The second set of students boarded a total of 13 students and the accident occurred,” he said.
Egbe said after the safe landing of the first set of students on the cruise ride, some concerns were raised and the management gave assurance before the second set boarded the boat.
“However, the driver of the first set handed over to another driver and left to get fuel. The boat took off and mid-way the boat engine went off and water started entering the boat in an uncontrollable manner that sank part of the boat before it finally capsized.”
He blamed the incident on the negligence, incompetence and lackadaisical attitude of the management of the Marina resort boat cruise operators.
According to the students leader, though the students had life vests on them while on board, most of the vests had worn out and were of poor quality.
The remains of the students were yet to e found from the water as at press time.
