Kwara: Two drown in Asa River after altercation

Two young men have been reported drowned in the popular Asa River in the Ilorin metropolis, Kwara, during an altercation.

The Tribune gathered at the scene of the incident that an altercation occurred between two adults over N2,000 on Saturday morning, during which one person reportedly sustained an injury.

The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the State Fire Service, Hassan Hakeem Adekunle, who confirmed the incident, said that the Kwara State Fire Service on Saturday, 17th October 2026, responded to a rescue emergency at Asa Bridge, along Emir’s Road, Ilorin, following a report of a man who entered the river during an altercation and was subsequently reported missing in the water.

“The Fire Service received the distress call and turned out at 10:15 am. According to information gathered at the scene, an altercation reportedly occurred between two adults, during which one person sustained an injury.

“A man identified as Abubakar reportedly ran towards the river and jumped in. Another man, identified as Nasiru, aged 42, who had attempted to intervene in the situation, also entered the river and was subsequently reported to have drowned.

“Upon receiving the report, our firefighters immediately commenced an intensive search and rescue operation. The operation continued for several hours, with our personnel making concerted efforts to locate the missing man. Despite the extensive efforts undertaken so far, the search has yet to yield the desired result.

“As of the time of this press release, the search operation remains ongoing, with the Kwara State Fire Service continuing its efforts to locate the missing man.

“The Chief Fire Officer (CFO), Alabi Muhammed, was present at the scene, providing leadership and overseeing the operation.

“CFO Alabi Muhammed urged members of the public to avoid entering rivers or other bodies of water during confrontations or emergencies, emphasising the importance of prioritizing personal safety and contacting the appropriate emergency response agencies for assistance.

“He further called on residents to remain calm during disputes and allow trained emergency responders to handle dangerous situations.

“The Kwara State Fire Service assures the public that our personnel remain committed to the ongoing search operation and will continue making every necessary effort to achieve a positive outcome.

“Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available”.