Three children from the same extended family have drowned in an abandoned fish pond in Delta State.
The victims were identified as Great Anthony Ikpera, 6-year-old, Goodluck Anthony Ikpera, 8-year-old, and Vwegba Jite Ikpera, 12-year-old. They are members of the Ikpera family of Awirhe Community in Agbarha-Otor.
The incident occurred in Saniko Community, Agbarha-Otor, Ughelli North Local Government Area.
According to community sources, the children were declared missing by their parents on Saturday, October 10, 2026. A search party comprising family members and residents was immediately organised.
Their bodies were discovered on Sunday morning floating in an abandoned fish pond located beside a flowing stream behind the community.
The President of the Agbarha Youth Council, Rufus Ovotu, who confirmed the incident alongside a family member who requested anonymity, said the exact circumstances surrounding how the children entered the pond are yet to be established.
Ovotu said the bodies have been recovered and buried beside the stream.
He described the incident as devastating and urged parents and guardians to closely monitor their children’s movements, especially around streams, rivers and abandoned ponds.
He warned that rising water levels have made such water bodies more dangerous for children.
The community has been thrown into mourning following the tragedy, with sympathisers visiting the bereaved family to offer condolences.
As of the time of filing this report, efforts to get a reaction from the Delta State Police Command were unsuccessful. Calls and a message sent to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, were yet to be responded to.
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