Two men have been reported missing after a man allegedly jumped into the Asa River in Ilorin, Kwara State, in an apparent suicide attempt, prompting another person to dive in to save him.
The incident occurred around 10:15am on Saturday at the Asa Bridge along Emir’s Road, where the Kwara State Fire Service later launched a search operation for the missing men.
One of the men, identified as Abubakar, was said to have rushed towards the river and jumped into it following an altercation during which another person reportedly sustained an injury.
A 42-year-old man, identified as Nasiru, was said to have entered the river in an attempt to rescue Abubakar but also disappeared beneath the water.
The state Fire Service confirmed that its operatives were deployed to the scene shortly after receiving a distress call. However, several hours of searching had not yielded any result as of the time of filing this report.
The service’s Public Relations Officer, Hassan Hakeem Adekunle, disclosed the development in a statement, adding that Chief Fire Officer Alabi Muhammed was at the scene to supervise the rescue operation.
Muhammed appealed to residents to avoid jumping into rivers during emergencies or confrontations, advising them to seek assistance from trained emergency responders. He also urged members of the public to remain calm during disputes and avoid actions that could endanger their lives.
The Fire Service said the search for the two men was continuing and assured residents that further updates would be provided as more information emerged.
