Tragedy struck in Monguno, Borno State, as three young boys lost their lives after drowning in a pond located behind the General Hospital.

Security analyst Zagazola Makama, who shared the heartbreaking news on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, identified the victims as Mallam Gana Mohammed, Modu Audu Saleh, and Abba Ngumami—all residents of the Water Board IDP Camp in Monguno.

According to Muhammed Aisami, father of one of the boys, they had gone swimming at about 7:40 a.m. on Thursday when the incident occurred. Emergency workers and police quickly responded, recovering the bodies with the help of local residents.

Medical staff at the General Hospital confirmed the deaths, noting there were no signs of violence. The boys’ remains have since been released to their families for burial in line with Islamic rites.

The incident has cast a shadow of grief over the Monguno community, with residents calling for better safety measures around water bodies in the area.