Corps members whose bodies have been recovered so far include Chike Melvin Ijeh, Joshua (both pictured), Arinze and Mimi. Confirming the death of the 9 corps members, the state coordinator of NYSC, Florence Yaakugh, said the remaining five bodies were yet to be recovered.
“It’s a very sad development and we would soon have the identity of all the corps members involved in the accident and make such information known appropriately.
“We have very sketchy information indicating that about nine of our corps members drowned in Gashaka yesterday.
“So far, seven bodies have been recovered and we are working with relevant persons to recover the rest of the bodies and to identify them.
“This is a very sad development and the entire NYSC family in Taraba State is already thrown into deep mourning,” she said.
Taraba State Police Command Police Public Relations Officer, ASP David Missal, who also confirmed the death of nine out of the 22 corps members who were swimming in River Mayo-Selbe said seven corpses have so far been recovered from the incident.
“Information available revealed that 22 youth corps members had gone on a picnic party in River Mayo-Selbe in Gashaka LGA on Saturday when the incident happened.
“We were made to understand that while they were swimming in the river, there was sudden upsurge in the volume of water, which carried them away.
“Nine of them drowned, while others managed to escape.
“We have so far recovered seven corpses, while the search for the two remaining corpses is still in progress,” Missal said.
This is coming few months after it was reported that a corps member drowned in Nembe River, Nembe Local Government Area, Bayelsa State. It was gathered that the tragic incident occurred at the weekend when the deceased, who hails from Osun State went to the Ogbolomabiri jetty to take pictures of the waterside as part of his service fun memories.
