Ondo Siblings’ Death: My Children Didn’t Drown, I Suspect Foul Play — Father

‎The father of three siblings, including 11-year-old twins, who were found dead near a small river at a farm around the Owena Army Barracks in Akure, Ondo State, has rejected the suggestion that his children drowned, alleging that the circumstances surrounding their deaths pointed to possible foul play.

‎The bereaved father, Samuel Jonah, said his suspicions were heightened by what he observed when the bodies of his children were discovered.

‎The victims were identified as Joshua Jonah, 11; his twin brother, Jacob Jonah, 11; and their five-year-old sister, Blessing Jonah.

‎Jonah said he was particularly disturbed because, according to him, the bodies were not sufficiently wet and there was no water in their stomachs.

‎He also claimed that he saw blood coming from the ears of the children and from the body of his youngest daughter.

‎He said, “When I uncovered them, I saw blood coming out of their ears. I also saw blood coming from the body of my youngest daughter. I have never seen someone die in water and bleed like that,” he said.

‎“There was no water in their stomachs, and they were not very wet. I do not think they died through drowning. Something must have happened to them.

‎“I suspect bandits or other individuals may have been involved.”

‎Jonah, however, admitted that he had no direct evidence linking any individual to the deaths, stressing that his suspicion was based on the circumstances in which the bodies were found.

‎“I don’t have evidence to say this person killed my children. But the way I saw their bodies and what I noticed made me feel that something was wrong,” he said.

‎The father said the children had accompanied him and their mother to the farm, adding that he later left the area to attend to other matters.

‎According to him, he and his wife subsequently left the farm, instructing the children to play around the area and return home by 6 p.m.

‎“When I returned, I told them that their mother and I would be going home, and that they could continue playing around but should return home at 6 p.m. Their mother and I later went somewhere.

‎“By 6 p.m., we returned home, but I did not see my children. I waited, thinking that they would soon come back.”

‎“I began to think that something was wrong. I took my motorcycle and rushed to the farm,” he narrated.

‎He said he reported the children’s disappearance to the Military Police at the barracks and joined the search for them.

‎Jonah said the search eventually led to the discovery of the children’s bodies after a soldier contacted him while he was praying and asked him to return to the barracks.

‎he added, “We were looking for them everywhere. We also checked our church and contacted our pastor because we were hoping that maybe they had gone there.”

‎“I ran from the prayer ground to the barracks and met the soldiers. There is a small stream near my farm. When I got there, they held me back for a while.

‎“Army officers interviewed me and asked whether I had any problem with anybody. I told them I did not have any problem with anyone.”

‎According to him, an officer later informed him that his children had died in the water.

‎“I asked them how it was possible for my three children to die in the water at the same time.

‎“When I got there, they had covered their bodies with leaves. I removed the leaves with my own hands. I was deeply pained because those were my only children.”

‎Jonah said the discovery had left him devastated and determined to know what happened to his children.

‎“Those are my only children. I cannot just accept that they entered the water and all died at the same time without knowing exactly what happened,” he said.

‎He appealed to the government and security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation, including determining the actual cause of death.

‎“I want the government and the security agencies to investigate this matter properly. I want to know what killed my children. If they drowned, let them tell us how it happened. If somebody did something to them, that person should be found,” Jonah said.