Three medical students went missing while eleven others, all members of the Nigeria Medical Students Association (NiMSA) were saved in rescue operations Saturday, following a speedboat mishap at a resort in Calabar, Cross River State.
ASP Irene Ugbo, Police Public Relations Officer, confirming the incident Saturday evening, said concerted efforts were on to rescue three others.
The passengers were reportedly on a boat cruise when the mishap occurred around 3 pm.
Some of the medical students involved in the incident were said to have come from universities across the country to attend the NiMSA annual Health Week in Calabar.
In a bid to explore the city, the students were said to have headed to the Marina Resort for a boat cruise.
Meanwhile, the Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has ordered an investigation into the cruise boat mishap involving 14 medical students at the popular Marina Resort in Calabar, the state capital.
The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Ogbeche, expressed sadness that three of the medical students, who were in Calabar for the Nigeria Medical Students Games, had yet to be found.
He 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.
Governor Out further said: “The news of a cruise boat mishap at the Marina Resort, a tourist and relaxation destination in Calabar, is saddening and calls for concern, not only as your governor but as a parent.
“To imagine that the boat was overcrowded and some of those on it were without life jackets is of even greater concern, and the more reason why the state government will be investigating the incident and all those found culpable of having compromised on safety standards will face the wrath of the law.
“As a government, our administration remains committed to protecting the sanctity of life and providing an enabling environment for business, tourism and peaceable living. Therefore, any untoward action that could derail our objective will not be tolerated,” the governor stated.
He further expressed his joy that all but for one of the rescued students were out of hospital and was confident that the remaining one will pull through as doctors say he is stable and responding to treatment.
The incident comes days after 106 fatalities were recorded in a Kwara boat mishap last Tuesday, while 144 passengers were rescued.
