By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
Two teenage brothers drowned on Tuesday in a river known as Omileye in Ore, the headquarters of Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, after heavy rainfall caused the river to overflow its banks.
The siblings were reportedly swept away while attempting to cross the river on their way home from summer classes, after visiting their father’s mechanic workshop to wait out the rain.
It was gathered that the two boys had waited at their father’s workshop for the rain to subside before heading home.
A source in the area explained that the boys left the workshop when the rain stopped, unaware that the flood had washed away the bridge.
She said, “It rained all day. It was a terrible day. The father of the boys became worried when he returned home and found they were not there. He had to organise a search party.
“After hours of searching, the search party discovered the lifeless bodies of the two boys at different points along the riverbank, trapped in debris.”
The tragic development threw the community into mourning, as residents gathered to sympathise with the bereaved family.
Many residents lamented the lack of adequate infrastructure to prevent such tragedies, noting that the river had long been a death trap due to the absence of a footbridge.
“Every rainy season, this river becomes a threat. We’ve complained severally. Government must wake up before more lives are lost,” one resident said.
When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Olayinka Ayanlade, said the incident had not yet been formally reported to any police division but assured that the command would act swiftly.
“We are not aware of the incident yet, but we will ensure a detective is dispatched to investigate,” Ayanlade said.
The death of the two boys has renewed calls for the Ondo State Government and relevant emergency agencies to urgently address infrastructure gaps in flood-prone communities.
Residents are demanding improved drainage systems, early warning mechanisms, and the construction of safe pedestrian bridges across rivers and canals.
Environmentalists have also raised concerns that such incidents may increase due to changing weather patterns and poor urban planning, especially in rural and semi-urban areas.
As the community mourns the tragic loss, many fear that without decisive intervention, similar disasters may continue to claim innocent lives during the rainy season.