Kwara: Man Pursuing Apprentice Over ₦2,000 Debt Jumps Into River, Drowns
A metal scavenger identified as Nasiru has drowned in Asa River, Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, following a dispute with his apprentice.
While varying accounts of the incident have emerged, witnesses confirmed that the tragedy occurred on Saturday, October 17, 2026.
According to one account, Nasiru’s apprentice attempted to commit suicide by jumping into the river and he allegedly dove in after him in a desperate bid to save his life but ended up drowning.
However, another eyewitness offered a different version of events. The apprentice reportedly owed Nasiru ₦2,000 and had been actively avoiding him. During a pursuit by Nasiru, the apprentice jumped into the river to escape and he followed him into the water. While the young apprentice, identified as Abubakar, managed to swim safely to shore, Nasiru was unable to cope with the currents and drowned.
Team@orientactualmags.com learned that the incident occurred at approximately 10:15 am.
In a statement issued by spokesman for the Kwara State Fire Service, Mr Hassan Adekunle, it was disclosed that firefighters led by Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Alabi Muhammed spent hours conducting a search and rescue operation. As of press time, they had yet to recover the body, though search efforts remain ongoing.
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‘The Kwara State Fire Service on Saturday , 17th October 2026, responded to a rescue emergency at Asa Bridge, along Emir’s Road, Ilorin, following the 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 10:15hrs. According to information gathered at the scene of the incident, 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 of the incident, providing leadership and overseeing the operation.
CFO Alabi Muhammed urges members of the public to avoid entering rivers or other bodies of water during confrontations or emergency situations, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing personal safety and contacting the appropriate emergency response agencies for assistance.
He further calls 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’ the statement said-Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079, 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com. Thank you
