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A man identified as Sunday Ogah from Benue State has drowned in the Eyinwa River in the Odogbolu Local Government Area of Ogun State.
This threw the Eyinwa community into disarray on Saturday as PUNCH Online learnt that the incident occurred at about noon when Ogah, who was said to have accompanied his friend, Otusanya Abayomi, to the community, visited the river to have fun.
A source who was privy to the incident told PUNCH Online that the victim did not tell his friend before he left for the river to swim.
The Public Relations Officer, Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident and told our correspondent that efforts were ongoing to retrieve Ogah’s corpse and inform his relatives about the incident.
She said, “It was a disheartening afternoon for people of Eyinwa Community in Odogbolu Local Government Area of Ogun State where one Otusanya Abayomi’m’ of Igbe Ilara Ikorodu, Lagos State, reported at Odogbolu Divisional Police Station that at about 1200hrs today, March 30, 2024, he came with his friend, one Sunday, Ogah’m’, an Igede man from Benue State to his community.
“He stated further that his friend left him and others at an unknown destination without notifying anyone. Information later got to him that the said Sunday Ogah’m’ had gone to swim at the Eyinwa River, where he got drowned.
“Upon the receipt of the information, the DPO Odogbolu detailed surveillance police officers in collaboration with some local divers to locate the corpse, but their efforts proved abortive.”
The command further warned fun seekers, visitors and other residents of the state to steer clear of swimming in rivers whose depths are unpredictable.
“The Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Police Command, CP Alamutu Abiodun, while extending his deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased during this difficult time, assured that the Command remains committed to promoting public safety and preventing such tragedies in the future,” Odutola added via WhatsApp message.
This is not the first time visitors and fun-seekers will drown in a river in Ogun State.
In August 2023, two fun-seekers from Lagos State drowned in a river at Itori, Ewekoro Local Government Area, while swimming after a church programme in the town.
The victims, Femi Akinola, 32, and Tunde Falade, 35, were reportedly swept by a heavy tidal wave.
