Three siblings found dead near Ondo farm river, investigation ongoing

By Boye Oyeyemi

Tragedy struck a family in Akure, Ondo State, after three siblings, including 11-year-old twin brothers, were found dead near a small river on a farm around the Owena Army Barracks.

The deceased were identified as Joshua Jonah and his twin brother, Jacob Jonah, both 11, and their five-year-old sister, Blessing Jonah.

The children were said to have accompanied their father, Samuel Jonah, to the farm on Friday before leaving the premises to return home.

However, their father reportedly later discovered that the siblings were missing, prompting a search for them.

The search ended tragically the following day when the children’s bodies were found near the bank of a small river within the farm.

The incident threw the family into mourning, with relatives, neighbours, friends and sympathisers gathering at the bereaved parents’ residence in Oke Ogba, Akure, to offer their condolences.

Confirming the incident on Saturday, the Ondo State police spokesman, DSP Jimoh Abayomi, said the command had commenced an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the children’s deaths.

Abayomi said the command was continuing to document the circumstances of the incident and establish what led to the children’s deaths. He added that their father had taken the bodies for burial, while the police urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant around rivers, ponds and other bodies of water pending the outcome of the investigation.