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By Joel Anekwe
Following the drowning of an undergraduate student of neighbouring Rivers State University (RSU), Emmanuel Odebunmi, in its Olympic-size swimming pool, the University of Port Harcourt, has announced the closing of the facility.
The closure however, according to the institution, is on leisure swimming in the Olympic-sized facility, which is at the varsity’s Sports Complex.
Spokesman for Uniport, Sam Kpenu, who confirmed the drowning of the Year one student of Marine Engineering at the Rivers State University, said the remains of the late student had been deposited at the mortuary at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, UPTH.
He said, “A Year one student from the Rivers State University, of the Faculty of Marine Engineering, Emmanuel, lost his life at the Olympic swimming pool at the Abuja Campus of Uniport.
“He was accompanied by some of his friends, namely Prince and Bright. The corpse has been deposited at the UPTH morgue after the students’ union president of the Rivers State University identified him.”
Kpenu said the swimming pool would be “strictly limited” to professional sporting activities until further notice.
It was learnt that the student had, in company of three of his friends, gone to the pool, and got drowned while swimming.
Following the incident, the police visited the scene and arrested two of his friends for questioning.
“His corpse was deposited at the UNIPORT Teaching Hospital mortuary, while his friends were detained at the Choba Police Station”, Kpenu stated.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Nnamdi Omoni, said the state commissioner of Police had ordered an investigation into the circumstances that led to the death.
Also, a spokesman for the Rivers State University, Dr Harcourt Whyte, described the incident as unfortunate, adding that the school was making efforts to contact Odebunmi’s parents.
