A 16-year-old student of Government Day Secondary School, Samaru, Zaria, Kaduna State, Miss Praise Malachi, has drowned while hurrying home to check her Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) results.
Malachi, described as brilliant and hardworking, had reportedly passed her examinations with excellent grades. Friends who broke the news to her said she had performed exceptionally well.
Her father, Mr Emmanuel Malachi, said the tragedy occurred around 6:00 p.m. after heavy rainfall.
“Her friends came to my shop to inform her that the results were out and that she did well. Excited, she rushed home to check them on her phone. But while crossing a river created by erosion, she slipped and was swept away. Her body was recovered the next day in Hunkuyi, Kudan Local Government Area,” he said.
Residents lamented that poor drainage and erosion had long made the community prone to flooding.
“Praise was not the only child lost. Several lives have been claimed in the past,” a neighbour, Mr Emma Yashi, said.
The deceased had earlier secured a scholarship from the Centre for Girls’ Education, Zaria, to further her studies because of her outstanding performance.
The Centre’s Director, Mrs Habiba Mohammed, who described her as one of the best students, called for urgent government intervention.
“She was a wonderful child, disciplined and brilliant. We appeal to authorities to address the erosion problem and construct a bridge to avert more deaths,” she said.
The incident has thrown the community into mourning, with residents demanding immediate action to save lives.
