A tragic incident occurred on Saturday, May 30, 2026, in the Ogoloma community of Okrika Local Government Area, Rivers State, where a 16-year-old boy drowned while swimming with friends. The deceased has been identified as Miebaka Koko.
According to reports, Koko and three of his friends went to Derock Waterside in Ogoloma for a swim. Eyewitnesses stated that the boy was swept away by a strong water current, prompting his friends to quickly exit the water and seek help.
Dredging Activities Blamed
The Sector Commander of the Civilian Joint Task Force in Okrika LGA, Igwe Godswill, attributed the incident to the increased depth of the river caused by dredging activities. He explained that companies have dredged almost all waterfront areas in the region, making the river dangerously deep just a step from the bank.
Godswill recounted the events: 'At about 1:30 p.m. yesterday, four boys left the community and went to Derock Waterside in Ogoloma to swim. They entered the water, and shortly afterward, we saw the boys running out. A woman was also shouting for help. We rushed to the scene with another man and tried to rescue the boy. At one point, we could only see his hands above the water. However, the current was very strong, and the man who attempted to rescue him could not reach him. Unfortunately, the boy drowned. It is very painful.'
Recovery Challenges
Godswill noted that recovering bodies from rivers in the area is often difficult and can take several days. He added, 'If you are from this part of Rivers State, you will know that when someone drowns in our rivers, it often takes two or three days before the body can be recovered.'
Advice to Parents
The task force commander urged parents to caution their children against swimming in unsafe locations and to closely monitor their movements. 'I advise parents to warn their children about where they swim. Most of our rivers have been dredged and are now very dangerous. Parents should also keep track of where their children go,' Godswill said.
He further disclosed that security personnel, including a police officer and soldiers from Sector 3, witnessed the incident.
Police Confirmation
The spokesperson of the Rivers State Command, ASP Blessing Agabe, confirmed the incident. She stated, 'Well, the family has not made any report to the police. So we encourage them to do that for us to commence proper investigation and determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.'
