Drowning caused by negligence not 'Yemoja', NIWA tells Ogun residents

The NIWA stated that drownings on waterways are caused by negligence and the neglect of safety protocols, not by Yemoja, a water deity. During a sensitisation campaign at the 2026 Yemoja Festival in Abeokuta, the Area Manager explained that past deaths were wrongly attributed to Yemoja, whereas investigations showed they resulted from failure to wear life jackets, night sailing, or alcohol use. The campaign, organized with ATBOWATON and supported by the Federal Ministry of Marine, emphasizes safety measures such as wearing life jackets, avoiding night sailing, and abstaining from alcohol to prevent fatalities.