A New Year celebration turned tragic in Osun State after a teenager lost his life in a swimming pool at a hotel in Owode-Ede, along the Osogbo–Gbongan Road.
The incident, which occurred on Thursday, sparked tension on Friday when friends and relatives of the deceased stormed the hotel premises to protest what they described as the handling of the matter by the management.
Although the identity of the teenager had yet to be officially confirmed as of press time, sources said he died inside the hotel’s swimming pool under circumstances that remained unclear.
Eyewitnesses said the protest briefly disrupted activities in the area before security operatives, including the police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), intervened to restore calm.
Confirming the development, the Acting Police Public Relations Officer in Osun State, Emmanuel Giwa-Alade, said the incident did not involve a mob attack on the hotel.
According to him, members of the victim’s family had visited the hotel to express their grievances but the situation was later resolved amicably.
“The victim died inside the hotel swimming pool.
The family only went there to register their concerns, and the matter was settled peacefully,” Giwa-Alade said.
He added that the police had commenced an investigation into the incident, assuring that findings would be made public upon conclusion of the probe.