The Federal University of Otuoke is in mourning following the death of one of its students, Bright Akhere, a 200-level Mathematics and Statistics Education student from Isha in Delta State. The 21-year-old was reportedly found dead on Tuesday, April 25th, 2023, after his lifeless body floated in a swimming pool at Renew Empire Hotel in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The incident, which has sparked an investigation by the Bayelsa Police Command, is said to have occurred after the deceased came alone to swim on Monday, April 24th, but was never seen or heard from again until his body was discovered on Tuesday around 7pm.
According to a final year student of the institution, who spoke to LEADERSHIP under anonymity, the deceased had initiation marks on his body and was bleeding from his mouth, nose, and ears when he was recovered from the pool. The circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear, with conflicting reports from witnesses and hotel management.
The Public Relations Officer of the institution, Mercy Ekott, confirmed that the deceased was a student of the university and that the incident was not cult-related but a social activity where the boy went to swim with his friends and got drowned.
The Bayelsa Police Command has since released a statement confirming that it has commenced an investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the suspected drowning of the student. According to the statement made available to newsmen by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Asinim Buswat, the deceased was with his friends at the swimming pool on Monday evening, 24th April, and the friends left the pool at about 1700 hours.
Police investigations have revealed that the deceased had initiation marks on his body, and the police are now on the trail of the friends who are said to be at large. The police have also evacuated the corpse to the mortuary for autopsy, and investigation is ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding the suspected drowning of the student.
The tragic death of Bright Akhere has left the Federal University of Otuoke community in shock and mourning. The circumstances surrounding his death are unclear, and investigations are ongoing to unravel the truth behind this unfortunate incident. We urge anyone with information to come forward and assist the police in their investigation
