It was one of those teenage adventures, but this one ended on a tragic note. A 13-year-old boy in Bauchi State recently drowned in a pond while playing with his brother and their friends.
John Ibupntak John, a JSS 1 student of Excellence Model Academy, Bauchi, was confirmed dead after he was pulled out of the pool.
As his lifeless body was being hauled out of the pond, his brother, 10-year-old Ekemini and their friends wept profusely.
Our correspondent learnt that on Sunday, July 3, John invited his younger brother, Ekemini to the pond in Lushi, a suburb of Yelwa in Bauchi metropolis. The pond is located about 12 minutes walk from their parents’ home.
The Lushi pond, the reporter learnt, had earlier claimed the lives of some other kids.
The Chief of Lushi, Alhaji Danladi Mohammed, admitted that a girl fell inside and died some few months ago.
“She was trying to cross the pond when she fell inside and died,” he said. The traditional ruler said many people are not aware that the pond is very deep.
The boy’s dad, Mr. Ibupntak John Udoh explained that the incident occurred after the family had returned from church in the afternoon. Ibupntak is a worker with the Deeper Life Church in the area.
“When I did not see John, my wife said he had gone to the borehole near our house to wash his clothes with his younger brother, Ekemini,” he said. The father of seven then went to attend the House Fellowship.
But unknown to him and his wife, the kids had sneaked to the pond to have some fun after washing their clothes.
Farmers in the area depend heavily on the pond for their crops and animals, but most children in the neighbourhood see it as a recreation spot. Many adults see the place as an open toilet, with assorted faeces littering the surrounding.
On the fateful day, none of the boys who went out to the pond could swim. There are several accounts of what led to John’s death in the pond. According to Ekemini, a primary four pupil of Divine International Secondary School, Bauchi, his brother and the other boys went deep inside the pond.
He said: “When we went to the river, as we were all playing, my brother and the other boys went to the other side. One of them said I should come and play with them, but I refused. Later, I went out of the pond and sat in a corner by myself. When I looked up, I did not see my brother again, and I told the other boys.”
But the Chief of Lushi village said he was told that the boys were playing with a plastic container that had the shape of a canoe.
“I was told that they mounted the object, and as they were playing with it, it capsized and threw them inside the pond. The pond is very deep but people don’t know. Before help could come, the boy had died,” he said.
Emenike said he ran to a man working on a nearby farm and explained that his brother was missing. Unfortunately, the man too could not swim. He advised Ekemini to go and call his father.
Ibupntak was on his way back from fellowship when he met his son rushing home on a motorbike.
“The rider asked me if I was the father and I said yes. He explained what happened to me and we went to the pond,” said the distraught dad.
Ibubntak, an indigene of Nkek village in Ukanafua Local Government area of Akwa Ibom State said the news of his son’s death was very painful to him.
“After I saw his corpse, I went to my pastor and we reported to the police. His corpse was released and we have since buried him,” he said.
The father described the death of his son as sad, but said that as a Christian, he was happy and convinced that his son would go to heaven.
According to the father, the late John displayed some elements shortly before his death. He said it was after the incident that the family and their friends began to recollect his strange behaviour.
“His desire was to make heaven,” he told our correspondent. “But we never knew he was planning to go this early.
“On Wednesday, June 29, I was sitting in front of my house when John came to me and said he wanted to tell me something. Then he asked me to forgive him. I was surprised because he was a well-behaved child who did not trouble his mother and I.
“He told me that in whatever way he had offended me as a son I should forgive him because he wanted to make heaven. I was so moved that I drew him close and prayed for him. I assured him that he would make heaven by God’s grace, and that he should continue to obey the word of God.
“My neighbours told me that when I left for church, leaving John and his siblings who were preparing for church behind at home, John was singing a popular hymn, O when the saints go marching on, Lord I want to be in their number... It was not a mere coincidence because that day in church, I noticed he was reading his bible while other members were singing.
“I went to him and asked him while he was reading while others were singing, and he gently closed the bible and left his seat. He went to another corner and sat down.”
John’s mother told our correspondent that although losing her son was a painful experience, she was comforted by the word of God.
“That day after devotion, the Holy Spirit ministered to me and I called the children and asked them a honest question: I said if Jesus comes, would any of them make heaven? I admonished them to lead righteous lives because if as a mother I make heaven and any one of them is on the other side, they cannot cross to heaven because he or she was my child. John responded that he wanted to make heaven and he promised to be a good child. We never knew that he was preparing to leave us. I thank God.”
Ibupntak said he was very proud of his son. “He was a very good boy and his death, though painful, is a lesson that we should all prepare because death can come anytime.”
Alhaji Danladi said John’s death was painful. He assured that efforts were being intensified to discourage other young children from going near the pond.
The Lushi traditional head said: “I have told the village head nearest the pond to drive any child that comes near the pond away. The pond is close to a primary school but the teachers have assured me that they have stopped their pupils from going near the pond. We are watchful to ensure that another child does not die in that pond again.”
The village head also urged parents to be more vigilant. “Parents should closely monitor their wards. It is sad that we lost that promising boy. I hope such an incident will never occur in that pond again.”
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