The Kwara State Fire Service has recovered the body of an unidentified man, estimated to be 50 years old, from a river near Royal Valley Bridge in the Kulende area of Ilorin.

The recovery operation was carried out on Tuesday after a passerby who sighted the body floating in the river alerted a radio station, which subsequently notified the fire service.

The agency disclosed this in a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer, Hassan Adekunle, a copy of which was made available to The PUNCH in Ilorin.

According to the statement, firefighters received the report and mobilised to the scene at 3:44 pm before commencing the recovery operation.

“The firefighters commenced a recovery operation and successfully recovered the body of an unidentified man estimated to be about 50 years old,” the statement read.

It added that the recovered body was handed over to SUP Abdulganiu Garuba of the E-Division Police Station, Kulende, Ilorin, for further necessary action.

“The circumstances surrounding the incident and the cause of the man’s death have not yet been ascertained. Further investigation is expected to establish the details,” the service stated.

The Chief Fire Officer, Alabi Muhammed, commended the passerby for promptly reporting the discovery and appreciated the radio station for ensuring that the information reached the appropriate emergency response agency.

He also urged residents to report emergencies and suspicious incidents promptly to the relevant authorities to facilitate timely intervention.

The incident comes about two weeks after a man was feared drowned following an alleged altercation at Asa Bridge along Emir’s Road in Ilorin on October 18, after he reportedly jumped into a river.