By Michael Ofulue

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Residents of Imo community in Irese area of Akure are now in mourning over the missing of a security man who was swept away by a river within the community.
The 25-year-old man, simply identified as Sunday Abubakar, Sokoto extractration reportedly jumped into the river after drinking alcohol.
The Hope Metro learnt that the incident occurred on Sunday at about 9am.
Sources said the victim had earlier on the fateful day went to take his bath in the same river alongside two other security men whose names were given as Aliu Abubakar and Ibrahim Babangida, both from Kwara and Katsina States respectively .
The Hope gathered that Sunday and his other two colleagues parted ways after they had taken bath.
The victim, The Hope Metro further gathered reportedly went to a bar to have some drinks before returning to the river where he reportedly got drown.
Speaking with The Hope Metro, Ibrahim Babangida a friend of the deceased who is also one of the Community’s security guard, said he was not aware if the victim was drunk before diving into the river.
He explained that he was informed that Sunday had been swept away by the river after they had parted ways.
His words, “I am not aware that the victim took any drink, but I heard it from people who earlier saw him consuming some bottles of alcoholic drink. I was very shocked, because we were both employed by the community as security guards.
“We have been working here for over six months and the victim usually bath in the same river and even helped some residents of the community to cross to the other side of the river whenever they were going to fetch palm wine or fire woods.
” I really don’t know how it happened as his body dead or alive has not been found.
“Police detectives have visited the scene of the incident and invited me for questioning. I told them all I knew. As I speak with you, we are making efforts to employ some Hausa men who know how to swim to come and help us search for his body, “he stated.
Babangida who described the victim as a hardworking man, said if eventually his body was found, he will travel to Kwara State to inform his family members.
Also speaking, Aliu Abubakar said, “When I got a call that Sunday had jumped into the river, I rushed to the place and in an attempt to rescue him, I held his hand, while he grabbed my head.
“I discovered as much as I tried to pull him out of the river, he wasn’t moving. Rather, he was trying to drag me too into the river, but I quickly left him and the water swept him away,” Aliu narrated fearfully.
Abubakar who said both of them would have been swept away by the river stated that he tried to rescue him but could not swim and left him since it appeared he was not moving.
He stated that there were three of them working as security man for the community before the incident describing the victim as hardworking and a brother.
At the time of filing this report, Sunday’s body was yet to be found as the torrential rain has made it difficult to recover the corpse.