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12-year-old drowns in river on way home from school

The body was handed to his father, Monday Benjamin, amidst tears by relatives and sympathisers.

• March 17, 2021
Kwara state governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq
Kwara state governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq [Photo credit: The Guardian Nigeria]

A 12-year-old boy, Lekan Benjamin, on Tuesday, drowned at Asa River in Ilorin while swimming with his friends.

While confirming the incident, the Director of Fire Service, Falade Olumuyiwa, described it as unfortunate.

He said the incident happened when the victim, a pupil of Junior Secondary School, Ilorin, went swimming with some of his classmates while returning from school.

According to Mr. Olumuyiwa, the victim, who lived in the Oja-Iya area of Ilorin, always went to school within the river’s vicinity with his friends and schoolmates.

He explained that the deceased’s corpse was recovered by the state’s fire service under Ejiba bridge at Ejiba road, off Stadium Road, Ilorin.

He added that the body was handed to his father, Monday Benjamin, amidst tears by relatives and sympathisers.

Mr. Olumuyiwa commiserated with the family of the deceased, advising parents to always guard against disaster by being mindful of their children’s activities. 

(NAN)

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