Tragedy struck a family in Akure, Ondo State, after three siblings, including 11-year-old twins, were found dead near the bank of a small river at a farm around the Owena Army Barracks.
The victims were identified as Joshua Jonah, 11; his twin brother, Jacob Jonah, 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, September 4, but reportedly left the farm for home later in the day.
However, when their father returned home, he reportedly discovered that the children were missing and raised the alarm, prompting a search for them.
The search came to a tragic end on Saturday, September 5, when the bodies of the three children were discovered 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 condolences.
The Ondo State Police Command, while confirming the incident, said it had commenced investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), Jimoh Abayomi, said the children had accompanied their father to the farm before they were later discovered missing.
According to him, ‘The Ondo State Police Command confirms the tragic loss of three siblings at a farm located around the Owena Army Barracks, Akure, on 4th September 2026.
‘The victims, identified as Joshua Jonah, 11 years; Jacob Jonah, 11 years (twins); and Blessing Jonah, five years, reportedly accompanied their father, Samuel Jonah, to the farm.
‘They later left the farm for home, but were discovered missing when their father returned home.’
Abayomi said a search operation was subsequently conducted, leading to the discovery of the children’s bodies the following day.
He said, ‘A search was subsequently conducted, and on 5th September 2026, the bodies of the three children were discovered around the bank of a small river within the farm.’
The PPRO said the bodies had been taken by their father for burial, adding that the police were still documenting the incident as the investigation continued.
‘The Command is continuing to document the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate incident, while investigation is ongoing to establish the exact circumstances leading to their death,’ he said.
The police spokesman condoled with the bereaved family and advised parents and guardians to exercise greater vigilance over children, particularly around rivers, ponds and other bodies of water.
The deaths have left the family and sympathisers devastated, while residents await the outcome of the police investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.