‘My Children Didn’t Drown’ — Father of Three Siblings Found Dead on Ondo Farm Alleges Foul Play

Samuel Jonah, the father of three siblings found dead at a farm around Owena Army Barracks in Ondo state, has alleged foul play in the circumstances surrounding their death.

Speaking with journalists on Monday, Jonah said he became suspicious after examining the bodies of his children, adding that their condition suggested they may not have drowned.

On Saturday, three siblings, including 11-year-old twins, were found dead on a farm around Owena Army Barracks.

Abayomi Jimoh, spokesperson for the Ondo state police command, said the deceased had accompanied their father to the farm on Friday, but they later left to return home.

Jimoh said their father became worried after getting back home to discover that the children were missing, prompting a search operation.

Jimoh added that the bodies of the three siblings were eventually found “around the bank of a small river within the farm”.

The victims were identified as Joshua Jonah, 11; his twin brother, Jacob Jonah, 11; and their five-year-old sister, Blessing Jonah.

‘THEY WERE MY ONLY CHILDREN’

Giving details about what transpired, Jonah said after he discovered that his children did not arrive home on Friday, he reported the case to the military police officers at the barracks

The deceased’s father said he and his wife continued search efforts the next day, adding that they even contacted their pastor to ascertain if the children went to church.

Jonah, a native of Benue state who has lived in Akure since 2003, said he was praying when a soldier contacted him and asked him to return to the barracks.

“I ran from the prayer ground to the barracks and met the soldiers. There is a small stream near my farm,” he said.

“When I got there, they held me back for a while. Army officers interviewed me and asked whether I had any problem with anybody. I told them I did not have any problem with anyone.”

Jonah said an officer informed him that the children had died in the small stream.

The grieving father said he asked the officers about the possibility of three children drowning at the same time.

He said when he removed the leaves used to cover their bodies, he saw blood coming out of his children’s ears.

“I asked them how it was possible for my three children to die in the water at the same time,” he said.

“When I got there, they had covered their bodies with leaves. I removed the leaves with my own hands. I was deeply pained because those were my only children.

“When I uncovered them, I saw blood coming out from their ears. I also saw blood coming from the body of my youngest daughter. I have never seen someone die in water and bleed like that.

“There was no water in their stomachs, and they were not very wet. I do not think they died through drowning.

“Something must have happened to them. I suspect bandits or some other people may have been involved.”

He appealed to the state government to help establish the cause of death of his three children.