Four people tragically drowned on Sunday in the Osun River in Okemesi-Ekiti, located in Ekiti West Local Government Area, Ekiti State. The incident occurred in the evening as the community hosted guests for a funeral ceremony.
According to local sources, two of the deceased were visitors from Lagos who had come to Okemesi-Ekiti to attend the funeral, while the remaining two were residents of the town. The four individuals reportedly decided to swim in the Osun River, a popular but potentially dangerous waterway situated along the Ajindo/Ido-Ile road on the outskirts of Okemesi-Ekiti.
One community source shared, “The victims were drowned while swimming in a popular river called Osun, located along Ajindo/Ido-Ile on the outskirts of the ancient community.”
Confirming the incident, Ekiti State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abutu Sunday, stated that the authorities had received a distress call about the tragedy and immediately initiated an investigation.
In his words, “A distress report received on 10/11/2024 has it that on the same date, a 23-year-old and 25-year-old natives of Okemesi-Ekiti went to River Osun Ajindo/Ido-Ile road to swim alongside two of their friends that came from Lagos State to attend a burial ceremony which took place at Okemesi.
“The four young men unfortunately got drowned. Their bodies have been recovered and deposited in the morgue, while investigation is underway.”
The unfortunate loss has cast a somber shadow over the community, especially as the victims’ bodies were retrieved and sent to the morgue pending further inquiries.
