Rep Visits Ribang Village, Pledges Support After Tragic Drowning Incident

House of Representatives member Mukhtar Chawai, representing Kauru federal constituency, visited Ribang village to sympathize with the families of six students who drowned in the Mbang River last week.

The tragedy struck as the students were returning from GSS Fadan Chawai in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where they had gone to write their junior WAEC exams.

Chawai offered condolences to the Chief of Chawai, Alhaji Yahaya Mohammed, at Tarya Village en route to Ribang Village.

He lamented the poor state of the nine-kilometer road and the lack of essential infrastructure, including a bridge, school, and hospital.

During his visit to Ribang Village, Chawai assured the community of his commitment to collaborating with the federal and state governments to ensure the construction of a bridge and the provision of basic amenities to prevent future tragedies.

“The governor has shown remorse over the sad incident, and I have told him to assist this community with anything that will bring succor. I am glad that he has responded by instructing his Special Adviser on Rural Infrastructure to visit and assess the community to see how the state can help. The governor’s aide promised to come next week.

The world and the government share in your pain over the unfortunate incident that befell you,” Chawai said.

He expressed deep concern over the untimely deaths of the students, describing the situation as disheartening and painful, especially given their determination to attend school despite the challenges.

Village head Timothy Nda lamented the lack of government projects in the community since the return of democracy.

He noted that the only primary school was built through community effort and that the only borehole had stopped working 20 years ago.

Nda appealed to the government and representatives to provide basic social amenities like roads, schools, and healthcare facilities to improve their livelihood.

The two surviving students, James Emmanuel and Shedrack Musa, recounted their ordeal, revealing that their drowned colleagues clung to small trees in the water for almost four hours before they finally succumbed.