Operatives of the Kwara State Fire Service on Wednesday recovered the lifeless body of a man suspected to be mentally unstable from the Asa River near Emir’s Road in Ilorin, the state capital.
The incident, which occurred around 11:06 a.m., caused panic among residents and passersby who gathered at the scene as the body was seen floating on the river.
In a statement issued by the Head of Media and Publicity of the Kwara State Fire Service, PFO Hassan Hakeem Adekunle, the victim’s identity had yet to be confirmed, though eyewitnesses claimed he was mentally challenged.
“The cause of the drowning could not be immediately ascertained. The recovered body was later handed over to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, for further necessary action,” the statement added.
The Director of the State Fire Service, Prince Falade John Olumuyiwa, described the occurrence as unfortunate and expressed sympathy to the deceased’s family and the general public.
He also cautioned residents to be vigilant and avoid risky activities around rivers, streams, and other water bodies, especially during the rainy season, to prevent similar tragedies.
Olumuyiwa reaffirmed the agency’s dedication to responding swiftly to emergencies and protecting lives and property across the state.
In a similar development, operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) recovered the body of a 15-year-old boy from a pond in Gabari village, Garki Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
Confirming the incident on October 2, 2025, in a statement issued in Dutse, the state capital, the spokesperson of the NSCDC, Jigawa Command, ASC Badaruddeen Tijjani, said the deceased, identified as Sunusi Abubakar, was found lifeless in a pond locally known as Mahayin gidan Toro, located about 1.5 kilometres north of Gabari village, around 9:00 a.m. on October 1.
Advertisement
