The Gombe State Police Command has confirmed the death of a teenage boy who was discovered early Monday morning in a gully at Hayin Kwarin Misau Quarters, following a night of heavy rainfall.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Buhari Abdullahi, officers received a distress call around 6:30 a.m. from the Officer-in-Charge of the Hayin Kwari outpost, reporting the presence of a lifeless body at an erosion site in the area.
“Our personnel responded swiftly and visited the scene. Initial findings revealed no signs of violence or physical injury on the body,” Abdullahi said. “It is suspected that the boy drowned as a result of the previous night’s heavy downpour.”
The victim, estimated to be around 15 years old, had no form of identification on him when he was found. His remains were evacuated to the Gombe Specialist Hospital, where a medical doctor confirmed him dead.
Photographs were taken by police investigators, and an inquiry into the exact circumstances of his death is ongoing. Meanwhile, efforts are underway to identify the deceased and trace his family members.
The police have appealed to members of the public for assistance. “We urge anyone with useful information that could help identify the boy or contact his relatives to report to the nearest police station,” Abdullahi added.
The incident has once again highlighted the dangers posed by unchecked erosion and flood-prone areas in Gombe, especially during the rainy season.
