19th May, 2016
Ikpomwosa was said to have drowned while attempting to pick up a catfish from a swamp located in Iyoba Street, Uselu axis of the city.
It was gathered that the teenager returned home from school after students were asked to go back home, following the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) strike.
Following the tragic incident, friends of the deceased who accompanied him to the swamp fled and alerted his parents.
Narrating what transpired to journalists, mother of the deceased, Mrs. Maureen Igiebor, said Ikponmwosa was already preparing for school, when his friends came.
“So, he removed his school uniform. Later, a little boy came to tell me that my son got drowned while trying to catch a catfish at the swamp,” she said.
Also speaking on the incident, a sister of the the victim, simply identified as Omosigho, who wept profusely, said: “One little boy just came and said my brother got drowned at Iyoba swamp; that he is dead.
“The government should do something about this swamp because there are other helpless children out there. My only brother that I have is dead.”
Mr. Sunday Igbinidu, a sympathiser, said: “This water has been here for a long time. So, we do not want this kind of thing to happen next time. The state government should inform the Federal government to fill the swamp.
“About three years ago, somebody died in this flood water. Another incident happened early this year before the latest tragedy.”
The remains of the deceased has been taken to the family home for burial.
Edo State Police Command Spokesman, DSP Abiodun Osifo, could neither confirm nor deny the incident, as he said he was on a journey and had not been briefed.