Operatives of the Kwara State Fire Service on Wednesday recovered the lifeless body of a man, believed 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 floated on the river.
According to a statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of the Kwara State Fire Service, PFO Hassan Hakeem Adekunle, the victim’s identity was not immediately confirmed, though witnesses claimed he had a mental health condition.
“The cause of the drowning remains unknown. The recovered body has been handed over to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment for further action,” the statement added.
The Director of the State Fire Service, Prince Falade John Olumuyiwa, described the incident as tragic and extended his condolences to the victim’s family and the public. He urged residents to be cautious around rivers, streams, and other water bodies, particularly during the rainy season, to prevent similar occurrences.
Olumuyiwa reaffirmed the fire service’s commitment to prompt emergency response and the protection of lives and property across the state.
In a related development, authorities in Jigawa State recovered the body of a 15-year-old boy from a pond in Gabari village, Garki Local Government Area.
Confirming the incident in a statement on 2 October 2025, the spokesperson of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Jigawa State Command, ASC Badaruddeen Tijjani, said the deceased, identified as Sunusi Abubakar, was found lifeless in a pond known locally as Mahayin gidan Toro, about 1.5 kilometres north of Gabari village, around 9:00 a.m. on 1 October.