The Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State, has remained conspicuously silent following the tragic recovery of the body of Miracle Ekene, a 200-level Chemical Engineering student. Ekene drowned in the Ekoli Creek in Yenagoa on Sunday, reportedly after attempting to swim across it for a N300 bet.
Ekene’s body was retrieved from the creek on Monday evening, approximately 24 hours after he disappeared beneath the water’s surface. The circumstances surrounding his death have deeply affected the university community.
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In a poignant display of mourning, Ekene’s fellow students organized a candle-lit procession on Monday evening, paying tribute to their lost classmate. The somber event underscored the profound grief felt across the campus.
Despite the widespread concern and the recovery of the body, the university’s management has not issued an official statement. When contacted on Monday evening, the Public Relations Officer of the university, Ms. Mercy Ekott, declined to comment, stating that she was not authorized to speak on the matter.
Ekott’s response, delivered via text message, read, “Sorry but I haven’t been authorised to speak on the matter. Thanks.” This lack of communication has left many within the university community and the public seeking answers.
Further inquiries to Ekott on Tuesday regarding the student’s identity also proved fruitless, as she claimed she did not have that information. This continued silence has added to the distress surrounding the incident.
However, the Bayelsa State Police Command has confirmed the recovery of Ekene’s body. Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Musa Mohammed, stated that investigations are underway to determine the exact circumstances of the student’s death.
Mohammed provided details of the incident, stating, “The matter is the deceased went to the river to bathe along with one other. Unfortunately, the deceased, in the process of bathing, jumped into the river. That was how the incident took place.”
The police have also issued a cautionary message to students and young people, urging them to exercise extreme caution around rivers, regardless of their swimming abilities. The police stated that “Investigations commence and we advise students, especially young persons; even those who know how to swim and those who do not know how to swim, to be very careful and take precautions, especially within the river environment.”
According to reports from within the university, Ekene had allegedly made a bet with his coursemates, wagering that he could swim across the river. The students reportedly contributed N300 each to the stake. As he attempted the swim, he went under the water and did not resurface.
