A tragic incident unfolded in Owode-Ede, Osun State, after a teenager lost his life in the swimming pool of a hotel along the Osogbo–Gbongan Road, sparking outrage among his friends and relatives.
The incident, which occurred on Thursday, January 1, 2026, involved a yet-to-be-identified teenager who reportedly drowned while inside the hotel’s swimming pool. As of the time of reporting, the exact circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear.
By Friday, tension had risen as some friends and family members of the deceased, unhappy with how the hotel management handled the incident, stormed the premises in protest.
Witnesses described the situation as intense, with emotions running high.
However, prompt intervention by security operatives, including officers of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), helped to calm the situation and prevent it from escalating into violence.
Confirming the incident, sources close to the hotel said the teenager was pronounced dead after being retrieved from the pool. They added that the protest was driven by dissatisfaction over the hotel’s response following the incident.
An eyewitness told PUNCH Online that security agents arrived swiftly and restored order, leading to a peaceful resolution of the protest.
Reacting to the development, the Osun State Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Giwa-Alade, clarified that the protest was not a mob action.
“It was the victim’s family members who returned to the hotel to express their grievances. The matter was later resolved amicably,” he said, adding that the teenager died inside the hotel’s swimming pool.
Giwa-Alade further disclosed that the police have launched an investigation into the incident.
“We have commenced an investigation. Once our findings are concluded, the public will be duly informed,” he assured.
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