A New Year celebration turned tragic in Osun State as a teenage boy drowned in a hotel swimming pool in Ile-Ife. The boy, identified as a secondary school student, had joined friends at the hotel to celebrate the New Year when the incident occurred.
Eyewitnesses said the victim entered the pool despite warnings from other guests and staff who noticed he couldn’t swim. Moments later, he began to struggle and eventually went under. Before help arrived, he had drowned.
Hotel staff and guests rushed to pull him out and attempted to revive him, but it was too late. A witness, who preferred anonymity, said, “People were shouting and calling for help, but before they got him out, he was already gone.”
Police officers from the Moore Division responded quickly and took the body to a nearby hospital, where he was confirmed dead. The police spokesperson for Osun State, Yemisi Opalola, confirmed the incident, saying investigations were ongoing. “We have started looking into the circumstances surrounding the death. Appropriate actions will follow,” she said.
The tragic death has sparked conversations about the need for better safety measures at recreational centres. Locals also called for adult supervision and posted warnings at hotel swimming pools, especially during festive periods when young people gather to celebrate.
The victim’s body has been deposited at the hospital morgue, and the police said his family has been notified. The hotel management has yet to release an official statement.
