A family in Akure, Ondo State, has been thrown into mourning after three siblings, including a pair of 11-year-old twins, were found dead on a farm around the Owena Army Barracks.
The deceased children were identified as Joshua Jonah, 11, his twin brother Jacob Jonah, 11, and their five-year-old sister, Blessing Jonah.
According to the Ondo State Police Command, the children had accompanied their father, Samuel Jonah, to the farm on Friday, September 4, before they later left the farm to return home.
The tragedy came to light after their father returned home and discovered that the children were missing, prompting an immediate search for the siblings.
Family members, neighbours and other residents subsequently joined efforts to locate the children after they failed to return home as expected.
The search eventually ended in tragedy when the bodies of the three siblings were discovered on Saturday, September 5, near the bank of a small river within the farm.
The location of the discovery was described as a farming area around the Owena Army Barracks in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, confirmed the incident and said the command had commenced an investigation to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The police have not announced a definitive cause of death, with authorities still examining the circumstances surrounding what happened to the children before their bodies were found.
The remains of the three siblings have reportedly been released to their family for burial as the investigation continues.
The deaths have sparked grief within the family and community, with sympathisers visiting the parents’ residence in the Oke Ogba area of Akure to offer condolences.
The incident has also renewed concerns about the safety of children around rivers, ponds and other potentially dangerous water bodies, particularly in rural and farming communities.
Police authorities urged parents and guardians to exercise greater vigilance over children and ensure they are closely monitored when they are around bodies of water.
The command expressed condolences to the bereaved family while assuring the public that efforts would continue to establish what led to the deaths of Joshua, Jacob and Blessing.
The tragic case has left many questions unanswered as the family awaits further findings from the police investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the three young siblings.