Three medical students were feared drowned and dead in boat mishap on the water of Calabar in Cross River.
However, eleven of the victims have been reportedly rescued by the Nigerian Navy patrol team.
The incident happened on Saturday afternoon when their speed boat capsized in the Calabar Channel.
The victims were among the 14 medical students, who visited Calabar for their annual medical week.
The medical students had gone on the boat to visit the popular Marina Resort to have fun on their social day.
The Oron Beach in Akwa Ibom State-bound speed boat reportedly capsized as soon as they left the Marina Resort jetty, following high waves on the sea.
An informed source at the Nigerian Navy Ship Victory, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the mishap,. saying: “The boat capsized due to high waves on the Calabar Channel and the 14 passengers, including the driver, drowned.
“But the fortunate thing is that the Nigerian Navy patrol teams were nearby. So their divers were able to save 11. Men in the patrol team are still in the water, trying to see the possibility of rescuing the remaining three. We are praying as hope of finding them alive was dimming by the minute.
Also, an official of the Nigeria Medical Association, Cross River State chapter, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the remaining three victims might have died.
He said: “The 2023 Nigeria Medical Association Health Week and the Medical School in Calabar are hosting this year’s health week.
“Students across Medical schools in Nigeria came to Calabar just to have their annual health week.
“So in the course of doing their social activities, the plan was for them to go to Marina Resort and visit the Slave History Museum.
“Few of the students decided to go on a boat cruise and it happened that when they were coming from the boat cruise to move to Tinapa for their normal social ride, the boat capsized.
“There were 14 occupants, including the driver of the boat, eleven of them came out safely, while three of them are still missing.
“Two are from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and one from the University of Uyo. The navy has been trying to see how they can retrieve their bodies because they cannot find them.
“They are saying we should come tomorrow and get their floating bodies; that is what is on ground for now.”
Meanwhile, as efforts to locate the whereabouts of the three medical students continues, the Cross River State governor, Bassey Otu, has blamed the boat mishap on overcrowding.
The governor, who had ordered an investigation into the incident, decried the safety standards at the Marina Resort.
He vowed severe sanctions against anyone found to be culpable in the incident.
The governor, in a statement, through his Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Ogbeche, said: “The news of a cruise boat mishap at the Marina Resort, a tourist and relaxation destination in Calabar, is saddening and calls for concern not only as your governor but as a parent.
“To imagine that the boat was overcrowded and some of those on it were without life jackets is of even greater concern and the more reason why the state government will be investigating the incident and all those found culpable of having compromised on safety standards will face the wrath of the law.
“As a government, our administration remains committed to protecting the sanctity of life and providing an enabling environment for business, tourism and peaceable living. Therefore, any untoward action that could derail our objective will not be tolerated.”
The governor disclosed that all the rescued students except one were out of the hospital, adding that he was confident that the remaining victim would pull through as doctors said he had been responding to treatment.
Otu also praised personnel of the Nigerian Navy and villagers who responded swiftly to the hapless victims of the crash and rescued 11 of the 14 passengers on board of the ill-fated boat.
