Two girls die in Enugu river

Two girls lost their lives while swimming in the
Asata River along Bisalla Road in Enugu
metropolis, Enugu State, on Saturday evening.
While the corpse of one of the victims, Chidera
Nwekwe, was recovered hours after the
incident, the body of the other victim had not
been located as of Sunday afternoon. Her
identity remained a mystery.
Eyewitnesses at the riverside told our
correspondent that the victims were hawkers
on the popular Bisalla Road/New Haven
junction, about 800 metres from the Enugu
State Government House.
It was learnt that they had gone swimming
with some of the destitute persons who usually
begged for alms on Bisalla Road, but drowned
since they were inexperienced swimmers.
Chukwuebuka Nwekwe, the elder brother of
one of the victims, said he was shocked that
Chidera could go swimming when she had
never attempted such.
He said they hailed from Akpugo Village in
Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu
State.
According to him, the last time he saw her was
on Saturday morning, shortly before he left for
work.
Chukwuebuka said, “She was only 13 and had
never tried swimming. I feel so sad that she
had to die this way. She would have been alive
if these people who beg for alms on the road
had not lured her and her friend to swim at
the river.
“The painful thing about the whole situation is
that we are orphans and we have no one to
turn to.”
The Enugu State Police Command said it was
unaware of the incident. However, the Police
Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu,
said the command would immediately mobilise
its officers to the scene.
He said, “Thank you for informing us. I will
alert the command and we will mobilise our
men to the scene right away. I will get back to
you as soon as we are readyto make a
statement.”