A middle-aged commercial bus driver, Oluwagbeminija Rhodes, drowned in Ogun River on Sunday while trying to save his drowning son, Gbeminiyi.
According to witnesses, who spoke with Naijalog, Gbenga was accompanied to the Ogun river bank at Lafenwa end, by his eight-year-old where he usually washed his bus.
The boy was reportedly playing at the river bank but suddenly missed his steps and fell inside the river, this prompted his father to jump in, in order to rescue him.
The deceased could not rescue his son but drowned while the son was later rescued by some people living near the river bank.
The source said Gbeminiyi was rushed to the hospital where he regained consciousness.
His father’s floating corpse surfaced at Oriyanrin area, about three kilometres from the scene of the incident the following day and was recovered by fishermen contracted to search for it.
The current chairman, MAPOLY Shuttle Bus Association, Mr. Adedolapo Adekunle, yesterday, said Rhodes’ corpse could not be recovered immediately because the river was full.
He said: “We heard about the incident on Sunday and we consulted the fishermen and other experts immediately but they told us that the river was full and that they had to wait for the body to float the third day or make attempt if there was sufficient sun on Monday.
“Luckily yesterday (Monday), it was sunny and his body was later recovered at Oriyanrin. We later paid for some rituals before his body was released.”
His remains were later interred at his yet to be completed building in Ikolaba community, Olomoore, in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of the state.
The deceased was described as a complete gentleman, humble and honest who led his association for nine years.