The Cross River State Police Command, on Monday, confirmed the discovery of the corpses of three medical students involved in the Marina Resort boat mishap in Calabar, the State capital.
LEADERSHIP reports that the tourist boat accident occurred on Saturday afternoon at the popular Marina Resort in the coastal city.
Our Correspondent reliably gathered that the two male deceased students were from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, Kaduna State, while the third deceased victim was a female student of the University of Uyo (UniUyo) in Akwa Ibom State.
The ABU medical students were late Mustapha Aminu Tukur (TK) and late Kabiru Hamza (Sir KB) while late Aisha Ogwu Celestina was from UniUyo.
Speaking to journalists on the development, the State’s Commissioner of Police, Gyogon Grimah, said the bodies recovered included those of two males and one female, all of whom were members of the Nigerian Medical Students Association (NiMSA).
“As you are all aware, on Saturday, about two days ago, after 3pm in the afternoon, there was an incident reported at the Marina Resort here in Calabar where a boat capsized.
“Three students were drowned and we have not rested since then, it had been rescue efforts day and night and this morning, I wish to let you know that three bodies have been recovered,” CP Grimah stated.
LEADERSHIP reports that three students were missing, while 11 others were rescued on Saturday after their boat capsized at the Calabar resort.
It was gathered that the passengers were on a boat cruise when the mishap occurred around 3pm.
The medical students were said to have had arrived Calabar from different universities across the country for this year’s annual NiMSA Health Week.
In a bid to explore the coastal city, the students were said to have visited the Marina Resort for a boat cruise on Saturday afternoon.
Following the incident, the Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, on Sunday, ordered an investigation into the cruise boat mishap involving the medical students.
The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Ogbeche, expressed sadness that three of the medical students, who were in Calabar for their association’s annual event, were yet to be found.
He charged security and rescue agencies as well as local villagers involved in the operations to find the missing students and reunite them with their families.
The Commissioner of Police said the bodies of the missing students were recovered by the locals with the help of the Marine Police.
He added that the bodies have been taken to where they will be preserved until the state government decides on what to do next.
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