Bamenda: Two Drown in a River

They were convinced by their friends to go swimming. Pupils of PS Ntamulung in Bamenda are in a mourning mood following the death of their school mates, Fabrice and Jean Paul who drowned in the Mulang River last Thursday February 4. They were amongst four who were on their way for dance practice when disaster stroke. Eye witnesses said the four class five pupils of Presbyterian School Ntamulung were on their way to meet others in Presbyterian School Mulang for joint dance practice in preparation for youth day 2010 when one of their friends derailed them by asking them to follow him to visit his aunt in the neighbourhood of Mulang. One of the pupils, Christian said on their way to the Aunt’s house their friend persuaded them to have a swim in the Mulang river and so they did. “Fabrice and Jean Paul removed their dress while the other friend refuses to swim. As I step in to the water while removing my dress, I felt like somebody was dragging my leg into the water”, Fabrice and Jean Paul he went on, had already jumped into the water. I started shouting “Jesus! Jesus!” then I was able to relinquish the grip on me. He said when he came out he called the two who were already in water but did not get any response neither did he see them subsequently. He then ran and shouted for help. People around rushed to the scene but the two were nowhere to be found. The Bamenda Fire Brigade was alerted. Led by their commander Afou Hansel, they rushed to the scene only to pullout the corpses of Frabrice and Jean Paul. The Mulung River is about 2.5 meters deep and muddy and stagnant during the dry season. Some inhabitants in the Mulang neighbourhood said pupils and students are fond of dogging classes to go swimming in the deadly river.