A 16-year-old boy, identified as Miebaka Koko, has drowned while swimming with friends at Derock Waterside in Ogoloma Community, Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The incident occurred on Saturday when the teenager was reportedly swept away by a strong current while swimming. Witnesses said his friends raised an alarm after noticing he was struggling in the water and being carried away by the current.
The Sector Commander of the Civilian Joint Task Force in Okrika, Igwe Godswill, attributed the tragedy to increased river depth caused by dredging activities in the area. He appealed to parents and guardians to caution their children against swimming in unsafe locations and to monitor their movements closely.
He added that efforts to recover the body are ongoing, noting that recovery operations in the area can take between two and three days.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command confirmed awareness of the incident and said preliminary investigations have commenced, although no formal complaint has been lodged. Police spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, advised the victim’s family to report the matter at the nearest police division.
