Three siblings aged six, eight and 12 have drowned in an abandoned fish pond in Saniko Community, Agbarha-Otor, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.
The victims, identified as Great Anthony Ikpera, 6; Goodluck Anthony Ikpera, 8; and Vwegba Jite Ikpera, 12, were members of the Ikpera family from Awirhe Community, Agbarha-Otor.
The tragedy reportedly occurred after the children were declared missing by their parents on Saturday, triggering a search that continued into Sunday morning.
The President of the Agbarha Youth Council, Rufus Ovotu, and a family member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told our correspondent that the children’s bodies were discovered floating in the abandoned fish pond on Sunday.
The pond is located beside a flowing stream behind the community. The circumstances surrounding how the children entered the pond had yet to be independently established.
The sources said the bodies were recovered and buried beside the stream.
The incident has thrown the community into mourning, with sympathisers visiting the bereaved family to offer condolences.
Reacting to the tragedy, Ovotu urged parents to monitor their children’s movements closely and prevent them from accessing streams, ponds and other dangerous water bodies, particularly amid rising water levels.
Efforts to obtain the reaction of the Delta State Police Command were unsuccessful, as calls to its spokesperson, Bright Edafe, went unanswered. He had also yet to respond to a WhatsApp message sent to him as of the time of filing this report.
