Tragedy struck last Wednesday in Benin-city, Edo State, when a teenager simply identified as Ikponmwosa who embarked on a fishing expedition in company of his friends reportedly drowned in a stagnant pool and died.
The 15-year-old male student was alleged to have drowned while attempting to catch a cat fish from a pool located on Iyoba Street, Uselu in the city after he returned from school as a result of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) strike against the increase in petrol pump price.
It was gathered that the heightened tension at the scene forced his friends who accompanied him on the voyage to flee and alert his parents.
The distraught mother of the deceased, Mrs. Maureen Igiebor, (Ikponmosa) was sent back from school with his mates as a result of the NLC strike.
She said her son was already dead before a good Samaritan came to his rescue.
“He ran home and removed his school uniform. Later, a little boy came to tell me that my son, Ikponmwosa, whom they went together to fish got drown.
“The boy told me that he got drown while trying to catch a cat fish from the swamp.”
Sister of late Ikponmwosa, Omosigho who wept profusely, said: “One little boy just came and said my brother got drown at Iyoba swamp, and that he is dead.
“The government should do something about this swamp because there are other helpless children out there. My only brother is dead.”
Also, one Mr. Sunday Igbinidu, a septuagenarian living in the area said: “This pond has been here for a long time. So, we do not want this kind of thing to happen again. The state government should inform the federal government in order to ensure solution to the water is provided.
“The government should to come to our rescue and solve this flooding problem here too.”
The remains of the deceased has been taken to his family house for interment.
When contacted for comment, the Spokesman of the state Police Command, DSP Abiodun Osifo, said: “Please call back later. I’m on a journey. I’m travelling. I can’t say anything now.”
