A speed boat carrying 14 students on a boat cruise at the Marina Resort in Calabar, the Cross River State capital has capsized, with three of the students missing.
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Media reports out of Calabar stated that the passengers were on a boat cruise when the mishap occurred around 3 pm.
The victims of the mishap were students under the aegis of the Nigeria Medical Students Association (NiMSA) who came from universities across the country to attend the NiMSA annual Health Week in Calabar.
It is believed that in a bid to explore the city, they headed to the Marina Resort for a boat cruise. A total of 11 student were rescued on Saturday while 3 were still missing.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Irene Ugbo, confirmed the rescue, while efforts had intensified to rescue three others as of Saturday evening.
The Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has ordered an investigation into the cruise boat mishap.
The governor, in a statement on his Twitter handle, expressed sadness that three of the medical students, who were in Calabar for the Nigeria Medical Students Games, had yet to be found.
The governor charged security and rescue agencies as well as local villagers involved in the operations to find the missing students and reunite them with their families.
I charge all security and safety rescue agencies as well as local villagers involved in the operations to find the missing students and reunite them with their families.
To imagine that the boat was overcrowded and some of those on it were without life jackets is of even greater
— Bassey Edet Otu (@officialspbo) June 24, 2023
Nnamdi Maduakor is a Writer, Investor and Entrepreneur
