Ondo Tragedy: 3 Siblings, Including Twins, Found Dead Near River on Family Farm

A routine trip to a family farm in Akure, Ondo State, has ended in unimaginable tragedy after three siblings—including a set of 11-year-old twins—were found dead near the bank of a small river on the property, plunging their community into mourning.

The deceased children have been identified as 11-year-old twins Joshua Jonah and Jacob Jonah, and their five-year-old younger sister, Blessing Jonah. The devastating discovery was made on Saturday, September 5, 2026, less than 24 hours after the children were reported missing from their father’s farm located around the Owena Army Barracks area on the outskirts of Akure, the Ondo State capital.

According to family sources, the three children had accompanied their father, Samuel Jonah, to the farm on Friday, September 4, 2026. At some point, they reportedly left the farm ahead of their father to return home. However, when Samuel later returned home and could not find them, he immediately raised the alarm, prompting an extensive search by family members and neighbours around the farm, bushes, and adjoining paths. The search ended in sorrow on Saturday morning when the bodies of the three siblings were discovered near the bank of a small river within the farm.

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The tragic incident has thrown the Jonah family’s residence at Oke Ogba, Akure, into deep grief. When journalists visited the family home, the compound was filled with grieving relatives, friends and neighbours offering condolences, while the atmosphere remained tense and sorrowful as many struggled to come to terms with the loss of three young children from the same household in a single incident. One neighbour was quoted as saying, “It is too painful. Twins and their little sister. All gone together.”

The Ondo State Police Command confirmed the tragic incident. The command’s spokesman, DSP Jimoh Abayomi, stated that the children had gone to the farm with their father before their disappearance was discovered upon his return home. He added that a search operation was subsequently conducted, leading to the discovery of their bodies near the riverbank within the farm. “The Command is documenting the incident and investigation is ongoing to ascertain what led to their death,” Abayomi said. He confirmed that the bodies had since been released to their father, Samuel Jonah, for burial.

The police spokesperson also used the opportunity to advise parents and guardians to exercise greater vigilance over children, particularly when they are near rivers, streams, ponds, and other potentially dangerous bodies of water. He expressed the command’s condolences to the bereaved family and assured the public that the investigation would continue until the exact circumstances surrounding the deaths are established.

As of press time, the police had yet to establish the circumstances surrounding the children’s deaths. While the family prepares for their burial, the community continues to await answers over the tragedy that claimed three young lives from the same household. The incident has also renewed concerns in Akure over child safety on farms and around water bodies.

Ondo Tragedy: 3 Siblings, Including Twins, Found Dead Near River on Family Farm

Uba Sani’s aide defends Musa, urges critics to respond with facts

The Senior Special Adviser to Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani on Public Affairs, Victor Mathew Bobai, has defended Minister of Defence Christopher Musa over his recent comments concerning former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, urging critics to challenge the minister with facts rather than resort to personal attacks.

Bobai said it was unfair to interpret Musa’s remarks during a recent Channels Television interview as a politically motivated or personal attack on the former governor.

The governor’s aide made the statement amid controversy surrounding Musa’s assessment of events in Kaduna State during El-Rufai’s administration.

During the interview, Musa criticised aspects of El-Rufai’s eight-year administration, alleging that some of the former governor’s policies and actions contributed to divisions between communities in Kaduna.

The Defence Minister also spoke about grievances in parts of Southern Kaduna, including killings recorded during the period, and said some residents remained unhappy over how the situation was handled.

Musa further praised Governor Uba Sani for what he described as efforts to promote greater unity and improve relations among communities across the state.

Despite his criticism of the former governor, Musa said he did not regard El-Rufai as an enemy, describing him instead as “misguided.”

Reacting to the controversy, Bobai argued that Musa’s comments should be understood as part of public discourse and should not be interpreted as an official military position or directive.

“We must distinguish between an official directive and a political opinion. General Musa did not issue a military order, announce a defence policy or instruct the Armed Forces to support any political party.

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“He participated in a public conversation and expressed his assessment of the political environment,” Bobai said.

The aide acknowledged the responsibilities attached to Musa’s position as Minister of Defence, but argued that holding a senior public office does not prevent an official from participating in discussions on issues of national importance.

He urged those who disagreed with Musa’s assessment to focus on the substance of his claims and provide evidence to counter them.

“Challenge General Musa’s facts if you disagree with them. Produce evidence. Correct him where necessary. But don’t replace argument with insults,” Bobai said.

Bobai also highlighted Musa’s military career, noting that he served in several command positions before becoming Chief of Defence Staff and later Minister of Defence.

“This is a man whose professional life was built around the Nigerian flag before any political party became relevant to his present position,” he said.

The governor’s aide further urged journalists, political commentators and other stakeholders to examine the public record when assessing the claims made during the interview.

He specifically called for scrutiny of El-Rufai’s speeches, interviews and public statements, alongside Musa’s comments, saying the issues raised had been subjects of public debate in Kaduna for several years.

Bobai also cautioned media organisations against presenting allegations or disputed political claims as established facts without supporting evidence or an authoritative finding.

The controversy followed Musa’s remarks about the political and security situation in Kaduna under El-Rufai, who governed the state between 2015 and 2023.

Musa alleged that Kaduna became deeply divided during the former governor’s tenure and referred to tensions between northern and southern parts of the state.

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He also claimed that some residents of Southern Kaduna faced insecurity and restrictions during the period, while others moved away from certain areas because of the tension.

The minister maintained that his comments were not driven by his Kaduna background but by his concern about national unity and the need for political leaders to bring Nigerians together.

Musa also called for political leadership that would reduce ethnic and religious divisions rather than exploit them for political advantage.

However, some of the claims made during the interview remain allegations and should not be treated as established facts without supporting evidence or findings from relevant authorities.

Bobai said defending the Defence Minister did not require attacking those who disagreed with him, stressing that evidence should form the basis of any response.

“Defending General Musa does not require attacking his critics. Our strongest defence is evidence, his record of service and the truth,” he said.

The intervention by Uba Sani’s aide comes as political debate intensifies around the legacy of the former Kaduna governor and the direction of the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Bobai called for continued public debate on contentious issues affecting Kaduna State and Nigeria, but urged political actors, journalists and members of the public to engage one another through evidence-based arguments, responsible journalism and respect for the rule of law.

Uba Sani’s aide defends Musa, urges critics to respond with facts

APC rally: Suspected thugs attack journalists, smash Radio Nigeria vehicle in Kano

Suspected political thugs on Saturday attacked journalists returning from an All Progressives Congress (APC) rally in Kano State, smashing the windows of their vehicle and injuring the driver.

The incident occurred behind the City Campus of North West University, Kofar Nassarawa, shortly after the journalists left the Sani Abacha Stadium, where they had covered a major political gathering organised by the ruling party.

The attackers reportedly wielded machetes and knives and repeatedly struck an official Radio Nigeria Pyramid FM vehicle conveying journalists and security personnel.

A Pyramid FM journalist, Yakubu Abubakar Gwagwarwa, confirmed the incident, saying the vehicle had five journalists and three policemen on board.

According to him, four of the journalists were Radio Nigeria Pyramid FM staff, while the fifth worked with Guarantee Radio. The three policemen had reportedly been given a lift from the stadium after the political event.

Gwagwarwa said the presence of the policemen did not prevent the attackers from assaulting the vehicle.

He said the attackers repeatedly hit the bus, forcing the driver to quickly turn back in an attempt to escape, but the assailants reportedly continued following them.

The journalist said the driver sustained injuries during the attack, while some of the journalists were hit by fragments of broken glass after the vehicle’s windows were smashed.

Gwagwarwa, however, said the incident might not have been specifically targeted at journalists, describing it as a seemingly random attack in which other people in the area could also have been victims.

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The journalists had been covering an APC political rally in Kano held at the Sani Abacha Stadium, where the Tinubu Support Group (TSG) was unveiled in the state as part of political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The gathering attracted prominent political figures and a large crowd of supporters, with several politicians formally joining the APC.

Among those reported to have defected to the ruling party were former senators Rufai Sani Hanga and Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya, as well as Senator Mas’ud El-Jibrin Doguwa.

Other political figures reported to have joined the APC included former Kano State House of Assembly Speaker Isyaku Ali Danja, former PDP deputy governorship candidate Yusuf Bello Danbatta and former NDC deputy national chairman Ali Datti Yako.

Reports also indicated that the political gathering attracted a large crowd extending beyond the stadium into parts of the Kano metropolis.

The attack on journalists in Kano has raised fresh concerns about the safety of media workers covering political events, particularly as political activities and mobilisation increase ahead of the 2027 elections.

Journalists covering political rallies and other public events are expected to be able to carry out their professional duties without intimidation, harassment or violence.

The incident is also coming amid previous reports of violence linked to political activities in Kano. At least three people were reportedly killed by suspected political thugs several months ago on the day a new deputy governor was inaugurated in the state.

The latest incident is particularly concerning because three policemen were reportedly inside the Radio Nigeria vehicle when it came under attack.

Despite their presence, the attackers allegedly continued to strike the vehicle before the occupants managed to escape the area.

The circumstances surrounding the attack, including the identities and motive of the suspected attackers, remained unclear as of Saturday evening.

The Kano State Police Command had also not publicly issued a statement on the incident as of the time of filing this report, and there was no confirmed information on arrests.

The attack comes at a time when political parties and support groups are stepping up activities across the country ahead of the 2027 general elections, raising concerns over the need for greater protection for journalists, political participants and members of the public at political gatherings.

APC rally: Suspected thugs attack journalists, smash Radio Nigeria vehicle in Kano