A yet-to-be identified bag snatcher has drowned in the Asa River while fleeing the scene of a crime in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

Witnesses said the deceased, believed to be in his 20s, had snatched a handbag from a female passenger commuting in a commercial tricycle commonly known as Keke Marwa along the bustling Emir’s Road around 2:30 pm on Tuesday.

In an apparent attempt to escape imminent chase from onlookers, the suspect sprinted across the road and leapt into the nearby Asa River, unaware of its depth or danger and eventually drowned.

Despite efforts by passersby to locate and possibly rescue him, the suspect’s body did not resurface until around 4:30pm, about two hours after the incident. 

His corpse was discovered along the riverbank lifeless when Daily Trust got to the scene. 

A witness, Gada, confirmed the sequence of events, saying “He took the bag and ran. People shouted and before anyone could react, he had jumped into the river. We stood there helpless. Some tried to assist, but it was already too late.” 

When contacted on Wednesday, spokesperson for the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, confirmed the incident but clarified that the agency was not responsible for evacuating the body.