Tina Ezin, Calabar

Three out of 13 students from Nigeria Medical Students Association (NIMSA) who went on a boat cruise at Marina Resort in Calabar, Cross River State are missing as their boat capsized on Saturday.

It was gathered that the boat capsized at about 3pm when some of the medical students who came from Universities across the country to attend the NiMSA annual Health Week in Calabar as part of social activities went to the Marina Resort to have a boat cruise.

A source from the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) who pleaded anonymity, said as part of their social activities to explore the city of Calabar, the students decided to visit the Slave Trade at the Resort when some of them sighted the boat and decided to go on a cruise.

The source said that two of the missing students are from Amadu Bello University, Zaria while one is from University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The source hinted,” The Medical School in Calabar is hosting this year’s health week, so students across Medical schools in Nigeria came to Calabar just to have their annual health week, so in the cause of doing their social activities, the plan was for them to go to Marina and visit the Slave Trade and all that but few of the students decided to go on a boat cruise and it happened that when they were coming back to move to Tinapa for their normal social activities, the boat capsized.

“There were 14 persons including the driver of the boat, 11 of them came out safely while three are still missing. Two is from Amadu Bello University and one from University of Uyo. The have been trying to see how they can retrieve their bodies because they cannot find them. They are saying we should come tomorrow and get their floating bodies, that is what is on ground for now.”

An eyewitness alleged that the students were not wearing life jacket when the incident happened.

A source from the Nigeria Navy who also pleaded anonymity said , “The boat capsized due to the high wave on the Calabar Channel and the 14 passengers, including the driver were emptied into the water.

“But the fortunate thing is that the Nigeria Navy patrol teams were nearby. So their divers were able to save 11.”

He added that their men are still in the waters, trying to see possibility of rescuing the remaining three.

Several calls to the Police Public Relations Officer, Irene Ugbo was not answered at the time of filling the report