A man has died while attempting to rescue a toddler who fell into a domestic well at Abule Egba, Lagos State, while emergency responders were unable to recover the child’s body after an extensive search operation.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, October 20, at No. 4, Paul Street, inward Agbe Road, when the toddler, whose mother worked as a cleaner in the compound, accidentally fell into the well.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), in a statement signed by its Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, said it received a distress call at 9:48 a.m. and immediately deployed its response team from the Igando Base.
According to the agency, a member of the Hausa community entered the well in an attempt to save the child but became trapped and was later recovered dead.
LASEMA, alongside the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps and the Nigeria Police Force, coordinated rescue efforts despite the well’s depth, high water level and thick mud.
The agency said the deceased man’s remains were handed over to his relatives and members of the Hausa community for burial in accordance with their customs.
Efforts to retrieve the toddler proved unsuccessful due to the difficult conditions inside the well. After dewatering operations encountered challenges, a specialist local diver was deployed for a final search but reportedly determined that the child’s body had sunk deep into the mud. Only one of the toddler’s shoes was recovered.
Following an expert assessment and consultations with the family and community leaders, LASEMA announced the conclusion of the operation, with all emergency responders returning to base.
Oke-Osanyintolu expressed condolences to the bereaved families and the Hausa community, commending the deceased for his courage in attempting to save the child.
The Lagos State Government, under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, also sympathised with the families affected by the tragedy.
LASEMA urged residents to ensure that wells and other openings in residential compounds are properly covered, raised and secured to prevent similar incidents, particularly in homes where young children live.
