Two persons are feared drowned at Asa Bridge along Emir's Road in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, following an altercation reportedly linked to a ₦2,000 disagreement.
DAILY POST gathered that an apprentice and his master allegedly chased each other to the bridge before plunging into the Asa River on Saturday.
However, the spokesperson for the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, said the agency responded to a rescue emergency at the bridge on Saturday, October 17, 2026, following a report of a man who entered the river during an altercation and was subsequently reported missing.
In a statement issued in Ilorin, Adekunle said the Fire Service received a distress call and deployed personnel to the scene at 10:15 a.m.
According to him, information gathered at the scene indicated that an altercation had occurred between two adults, during which one person sustained an injury.
He said a man identified as Abubakar reportedly ran towards the river and jumped in, while another man, identified as Nasiru, 42, who had attempted to intervene, 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,” Adekunle said.
He disclosed that the search operation was still ongoing as of the time of the report, with firefighters continuing efforts to locate the missing persons.
The Chief Fire Officer, Alabi Muhammed, was present at the scene to provide leadership and oversee the operation.
Muhammed urged members of the public to avoid entering rivers or other bodies of water during confrontations or emergencies, stressing the importance of prioritising personal safety and contacting the appropriate emergency response agencies for assistance.
He also called on residents to remain calm during disputes and allow trained emergency responders to handle dangerous situations.