Rescuer dies, toddler missing in Lagos well tragedy

On Tuesday, a man lost his life while attempting to rescue a two-year-old child who fell into a domestic well in Abule Egba, Lagos State. The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) revealed the tragic incident in a statement by its Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu. The child's mother worked as a cleaner in the compound, and it was she who alerted the community about her child's accident.

A resident from the neighborhood tried to save the toddler but unfortunately, he became trapped in the well and could not escape.

LASEMA received the distress call at 9:48 am and promptly dispatched a response team from the Igando Base. Despite the collective efforts of the rescue team, the local man could not be freed from the well. The high water level and thick mud at the bottom of the well complicated the rescue operation. A specialist local diver was eventually deployed, but he confirmed that the child's body was too far into the mud, making recovery impossible. Only a single shoe was found at the scene.

The PS informed the family and community of the rescuer's death, describing his act as an act of uncommon bravery. LASEMA expressed their condolences to the deceased's family and the Hausa community. They urged residents to cover up wells and other openings in residential premises, especially those with young children, to prevent similar accidents.

Residents were advised to contact emergency services through the toll-free numbers 767 and 112 rather than attempting dangerous rescue operations that could result in additional casualties.