Ijaw Youth Dies in Swimming Pool in Delta, Family Accuses Management of Negligence
By Ezekiel Kagbala
A 24-year-old Ijaw youth, Tare Emmanuel Kinkin, has reportedly died while swimming inside a Swimming Pool allegedly owned by Wellington Hotel Limited, Effurun, Delta State.
The deceased was said to have hailed from Opuoma community in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State. A family source stated that the sad incident occurred on Tuesday, March 12, 2024.
The source who noted that the hotel, Williston Hotel, a subsidiary of Wellington Hotel Limited, Effurun operates a commercial swimming pool that is opened to the general public, and the deceased went there to patronize them.
The family however, accused the pool management of negligence.
A statement signed by Mr. Fred Atejere on behalf of the family, copies of which were made available to journalists in Warri on Thursday blamed the untimely death of their son on alleged negligence of the swimming pool attendants who were said to be "absent even after the deceased, Tare Kinkin, registered to swim in the facility".
The statement partly reads, "This is to inform you all that our brother Godwin Kinkin just lost his son, Tare Emmanuel Kinkin inside a swimming pool at Williston Hotel, Effurun Delta State".
The agonized father, Mr. Godwin Kinkin, stated that his "son's body that was suspected to be lifeless was rushed to the Nigeria Navy Hospital and the doctor said he was brought in dead".
Also commenting, Pastor Clifford Atijere who went to Ebrumede police station to report the incident said that "the hotel management claimed that Tare Kinkin did not die in the swimming pool, even when a staff of the facility brought out a lifeless body from the swimming pool".
Meanwhile, the maternal uncle to the deceased, Rev. Benson Ekpen told journalists that the body had been deposited in the mortuary at the Navy Hospital.
When contacted for comments on the incident, the police public relations officer (PPRO) for Delta State Command, DSP Bright Edafe, said the family should reach out to him through phone call.
But the Hotel management declined comments despite several attempts to have them speak on the incident.
When our correspondents visited the facility at about 11:33 am. on Thursday, 14th March 2024, a staff of the hotel, Chinwe O. simply stated that the manager was not on seat.
