Mr. Charles Ekpe, blood brother to late Sky Bank branch manager, Ubong Ekpe, who died with another brother of his, Francis, a teacher, on Sunday, at Ibeno Beach in Uyo, the Akwa-Ibom State capital, has told a moving tale of how the unfortunate incident happened.
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The deceased drowned at the beach while on a family picnic, an episode that left the family in distraught and elicited outpouring of grief on Facebook.
Charles, a brother to the deceased. who was involved in the incident told Punch that his parents gave birth to 12 of them. and some of his siblings are living abroad, adding that they had an annual ritual, which was to assemble in Uyo with their immediate families.
During the reunion, it was customary to them to go to the beach. However, this Sunday’s outing left them devastated following the death of Ubong and Francis.
“We got there around 3pm, ate and took pictures. After we finished eating, the men went to play football; the children went to play with water, while the women watched them.
“I fell on the sand and decided to clean up in the ocean. I was washing myself when all of them (the men) came to join me in the water. The water was at our waist level when our eldest brother asked us to come out.
“We moved out and the water was at our knees. Suddenly, something we cannot explain happened. The waves covered us, as the sand caved in. While three of us succeeded in coming out, Ubong and Francis couldn’t,” Charles told the paper.
An outpouring of grief has followed Ubong’s death on Facebook.
Below are some of the sad expressions:
Stanley Nnamdi Kamuche: Still sounds lyk a dream and unimaginable event. RIP ma bro.
Akabuokwu Kingsley: This is just so sad. You were so enviable in so many ways. RIP MAN.
Chidi Ezeyi: I can’t still believe i just hope is not true. I hope i am. Am dreaming on this sad event
Ezekiel Essien: May his soul rest in peace. Amen!
Nsikan Nkutt: Your death is really shocking, unfortunate and saddening to say the least. RIP my man, and may the lights guide you home
