According to Punch Metro, a tragedy has occurred at the Onuiyi River in Nkwumeato in the Ihitte/Uboma Local Government Area, which connects the Abadaba Lake in the Obowo Local Government Area of Imo State as a 20-year-old pupil, Chima Ogbenna, drowned in the river.

It was learnt that the deceased was a Senior Secondary School 3 pupil of the St. Augustine International Secondary school, Amainyi, in the Ihitte/Uboma Local Government Area of the state and was billed to sit the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination later in the year.

It was gathered that the incident, which occurred on Monday, caused panic in the community.

A source said, “It’s no longer news that the Ihitte/Uboma LGA lost one of her sons in the person of Chima from Nkumeato, who drowned in the Onuiyi River this evening (Monday).

“May his soul rest in peace, amen. He was a pupil of the St Augustine International Secondary School, Amainyi.”

A villager, Liberty Chibueze, told Punch Metro that Ogbenna had followed his peers to the river to swim but drowned in the process.

He said the deceased’s schoolmates raised the alarm, but help could not come his way immediately.

Chibueze stated, “It is indeed painful. Chima had already registered for the SSCE and was expected to take it later this year.”

“He got drowned in the morning, but his copse was seen later in the evening after some spiritual cleansing had been carried out by the river.”

When contacted, the police spokesperson in the state, Orlando Ikeokwu, said the command was aware of the incident and had taken appropriate measures.