A student of Public Administration at the Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe,Bayelsa State, identified simply as Ade, has drowned in a river close to the institution.
Ade reportedly drowned in the river bordering the polytechnic on Sunday while trying to fetch water for domestic use due to lack of water on the campus.As a result of Ade’s death, aggrieved students of the institution went on the rampage, protesting against absence of potable water and alleged neglect by the school authorities.
It was learnt that lack of potable water on the campus forced students to rely on the river and other unconventional means for water.Tragedy was said to have struck when Ade and an unnamed friend went to the river to fetch water.
A source said Ade fell into the river and drowned because he could not swim.
“The two of them could not swim. So, when Ade fell into the river, all his friend could do was to raise the alarm. Before people could get to him, he had breathed his last,” the source said.
It was learnt that the situation was worsened by lack of presence of the school management on the campus located in Ekowe, in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.It was gathered that a team of police operatives was sent to the school to avert breakdown of law and order.A human rights activist, Alagoa Morris, faulted the school management on its handling of the matter.