The Ogun State Police Command has issued a strong warning to residents over an apparent rise in drowning incidents across the state, urging the public to exercise extreme caution around rivers, streams, swimming pools and other water bodies.
In a public advisory released on Tuesday, the Command cautioned against unsafe swimming practices, stressing that heightened vigilance is required to prevent avoidable loss of lives. The statement was signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, and issued from the Command Headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta.
According to the Police, recent drowning-related deaths recorded in different parts of the state underscore the urgent need for residents to take water safety more seriously, particularly during recreational activities.
The Command specifically directed hotel owners and operators of recreational and leisure facilities to ensure that all swimming pools are properly supervised, clearly marked and equipped with trained lifeguards at all times. It further emphasised that essential safety equipment must be readily available at such facilities to enable prompt response in emergency situations.
Describing safety around water environments as a collective responsibility, the Police stressed that strict compliance with established safety standards by individuals and facility operators is non-negotiable.
The Commissioner of Police, while lamenting the spate of drowning incidents, described such deaths as preventable and unacceptable. He called on residents, business operators and host communities to take responsibility not only for their own safety but also for the safety of others.
The Ogun State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property and urged members of the public to promptly report unsafe conditions or negligence at recreational facilities to the nearest police station for immediate action.