A man has died while attempting to rescue a two-year-old child who fell into a domestic well in Abule Egba, Lagos State.
The tragic incident occurred on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at No. 4, Paul Street, inward Agbe Road, after the toddler, whose mother works as a cleaner in the compound, reportedly fell into the well.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) disclosed that it received a distress call at about 9:48 a.m. and immediately deployed its response team from the Igando Base.
According to the agency’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, a member of the Hausa community in the area entered the well in an attempt to save the child but became trapped and was later recovered dead.
Emergency responders, working alongside the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps and the Nigeria Police Force, launched a coordinated rescue operation.
However, efforts to recover the toddler were unsuccessful due to the high water level and thick mud at the bottom of the well. Dewatering operations encountered difficulties, prompting the deployment of a specialist local diver for a final search. The diver reportedly determined that the child’s body had sunk deep into the mud, with only one shoe recovered.
LASEMA 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. The agency expressed condolences to both bereaved families and commended the man for risking his life in an attempt to save the child.
The agency also urged residents to properly cover and secure domestic wells and other openings, and advised the public to contact emergency responders through the toll-free numbers 767 or 112 rather than attempt dangerous rescues without professional assistance.
