By Wole Adedeji, Ilorin
The Police in Kwara State are still battling to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of a middle-aged man, whose hands and legs were tied and dumped in Asa River, in Ilorin, the state capital.
The man, whose identity was still unknown at the time of filing this report, was believed to have been prevented from struggling out of water with his hands and legs tied, thereby forcefully drowned by unending consumption of water.
His body was found in the course of River Asa, Emir’s Road by the operatives of the Kwara State Fire Service with his hands tied behind his back and legs also tied.
A statement by the spokesperson of the Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, said, “On 15th of November, 2021, at about 14:40hrs, one Mr. Olamilekan brought the attention of the Kwara State Fire Service, informing them that a dead body was seen at Asa River, along Emir’s road, ilorin.
“Our officers proceeded to the area and we were able to remove the body from the river.
“The shocking aspect of the incident was that the victim’s hands were tied together and his mouth too was covered by some tattered wrappers.”
Mr Hassan, however said that “the case had been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force through one Superintendent Ajape of the state command.”
Reacting, the Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Okasanmi Ajayi, said, “An information was received by ‘C’ Divisional Police Headquarters, Oja Oba, Ilorin, to the effect that a floating male body, was seen at Amilengbe river, Ilorin.
“On the basis of the information, a team of detectives were detailed to the scene, on reaching the scene, men of the Kwara State Fire Service have already removed the body from the river.
“On a closer examination, the hands of the already decomposing body was found tied to his back, while his head was also wrapped with a cloth, fueling suspicion that the victim was killed and thrown into the river.”
Okasanmi however added that “the Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Police Command, CP Tuesday Assayomo, has ordered a painstaking investigation into the matter to unravel the perpetrators of the heinous crime.”
