Kwara Fire Service Searches for Missing Man After Asa River Incident
By Taiwo Joseph, Ilorin
The Kwara State Fire Service has continued search and rescue operation at Asa Bridge, along Emir’s Road, Ilorin, for a 42-year-old man, Nasiru, who was reportedly missing after entering the river during an altercation involving two adults.
The incident, which occurred early Saturday, October 17, 2026, reportedly began with a confrontation between two men, during which one of them sustained an injury.
According to an eye witness at the scene, a man identified as Abubakar allegedly ran towards the river and jumped into it. Nasiru, who reportedly attempted to intervene in the situation, also entered the water and was subsequently reported to have drowned.
The Kwara State Fire Service said it received a distress call and deployed its personnel to the scene at about 10:15 a.m., where they immediately commenced an intensive search for the missing man.
Despite several hours of concerted efforts by the firefighters, the search had yet to produce the desired result as of the time of the service’s statement.
The Chief Fire Officer, Alabi Muhammed, was present at the scene to supervise the operation and provide leadership to the rescue team.
Muhammed urged residents to avoid jumping into rivers or other bodies of water during confrontations or emergencies, warning against actions that could expose them to further danger.
He advised members of the public to prioritise their safety and contact the appropriate emergency response agencies whenever dangerous situations arise.
The fire chief also called on residents to remain calm during disputes and allow trained emergency responders to handle situations that require specialised rescue operations.
The service assured the public that its personnel remained committed to the ongoing search, promising to make every necessary effort to locate the missing man.
It added that further updates would be provided as more information became available.
The statement was signed by the service’s Public Relations Officer, Hassan Hakeem Adekunle.
