An early morning rainfall which lasted for about seven hours yesterday killed a pastor in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

Daily Trust gathered that the pastor whose name could not be ascertained at the time of filing this report was attempting to create water channels along Kilanko area of Offa Garage when the incident occurred.

The rain which started around 3 am and lasted till around 10 am, kept many residents indoors.

Sources said in the process of creating the waterway, he slipped into a drainage and was washed away. It was gathered that the pastor who resided in the area died before he could be rescued. Residents said the deceased pastor usually volunteered to create water channels during heavy rainfall in the area.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Ajayi Okasanmi, confirmed the death of one person as a result of the downpour.

He said the deceased's identity could not be immediately ascertained, but added that the corpse had been deposited at the University of Ilorin (UITH) mortuary.

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Abubakar Mora, told our correspondent that the team of the ministry was yet to locate the area at the time this report was filed. He however added that government would investigate the matter.