Tragedy struck in Ore, the headquarters of Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Tuesday evening, as two teenage brothers drowned in the overflowing Omileye River following a heavy downpour.
The siblings, whose identities were not immediately disclosed, were reportedly swept away by the surging river while attempting to cross it on their way home after visiting their father’s mechanic workshop.
According to a resident, simply identified as Jumoke, the boys had stopped by their father’s shop after attending summer classes. They later left for home after the evening rain subsided, only to encounter the swollen river.
“It was a terrible day,” Jumoke recounted. “When their father returned home and didn’t see them, he became worried. A search party was immediately organized by the family and neighbors. After several hours, their lifeless bodies were discovered at separate points along the riverbank, trapped among debris.”
She added that the river, which had overflowed due to the heavy rainfall, became dangerously fast-flowing at the time the teenagers attempted to cross.
The grim discovery sent shockwaves across the community, with many residents mourning the tragic loss of the young boys.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Olayinka Alayande, said the incident had not yet been formally reported at any police division in the area. However, he assured that the command would assign an officer to investigate the matter immediately.
“We are not aware of the incident yet, but we will ensure that a detective is dispatched to look into it,” Alayande stated.
The incident has reignited concerns over the safety of residents in flood-prone communities across Ondo State, especially during the rainy season. Locals are urging authorities to improve drainage infrastructure and create safer crossing points across rivers to prevent future occurrences.
Leave a Reply