A 24-year-old student of Benue State University (BSU), Makurdi, Mr. Abel Agaba, has reportedly drowned while swimming in River Benue.
A source close to the family, said the 200-level Chemistry student, had gone missing on Thursday night after heading to the river to cool off due to intense heat.
However, after he was not heard off afterwards, a search party recovered his remains on Friday morning.
A family friend, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that Agaba, who lived with relatives around Awe Street in the Wurukum area of Makurdi, had earlier watched a football match at a local viewing centre with his friends.
The source said after the game, at approximately 11:45 p.m., he decided to take a swim in the nearby river, an outing that tragically ended in his untimely death.
His disappearance sparked concern, leading to a search effort that culminated in the discovery of his body the following morning.
He said, “We learnt that after watching the European football matches that finished at about 11.45pm, he said he was hot and wanted to swim in River Benue to cool his body.
“Though those with him advised him against going to the River as it was already too late, he insisted and went since it was the usual practice around the area for people to go swimming at night whenever there is intense heat as we have now.
“He went alone and nobody bothered to check on him till Friday morning when a fisherman in the neighbourhood went to the River to check his fishing net for fishes and discovered Agaba’s lifeless body attached to his fishing net.
“The man raised the alarm and people went and recovered his body which was identified by his family members who took his remains to the mortuary.
“The death of the young man has thrown Awe Street neighbourhood into mourning because he was a gentle man who gave his time to his studies and never had issues with anyone.”
The Police Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent, CSP Catherine Anene, when contacted, said she was yet to receive information on the incident.
