A two-year-old toddler and a man who attempted to rescue the child have died following a well incident at Abule-Egba, Lagos State, with emergency responders unable to recover the child’s body after an extensive search.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said the incident occurred on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at No. 4, Paul Street, inward Agbe Road, Abule-Egba.
The agency’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, disclosed the development in a statement, explaining that LASEMA received a distress call at 9:48 a.m. and immediately activated its emergency response plan.
A response team was subsequently deployed from the agency’s Igando base.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the toddler, whose mother reportedly worked as a cleaner in the compound, had accidentally fallen into the well.
A man from the Hausa community living in the area then descended into the well in an attempt to save the child but became trapped and could not climb out.
When emergency responders arrived, residents were already making efforts to rescue both victims.
LASEMA coordinated the operation with the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps and the Nigeria Police Force.
Despite sustained rescue efforts under difficult conditions, the man was recovered dead.
His remains were placed in a body bag and handed over to his relatives and members of the Hausa community for burial in accordance with their customs.
Oke-Osanyintolu expressed condolences to the deceased man’s family and community, describing his attempt to save the toddler as an act of exceptional bravery.
However, efforts to recover the child’s body proved unsuccessful because of the well’s high water level and thick mud at the bottom.
According to LASEMA, rescue teams attempted to drain the well, but operational challenges hampered the process.
A specialist local diver was later deployed to conduct a final search. The diver reportedly found that the toddler’s body had sunk deep into the mud and could not be recovered. Only one shoe was retrieved.
Following the diver’s assessment and consultations with the family and community leaders, the agency brought the operation to an end and directed responders to return to their respective bases.
Following the tragedy, Oke-Osanyintolu urged residents to ensure that wells and other openings in residential compounds were properly covered, raised and secured, particularly in homes where young children live.
He also cautioned residents against attempting dangerous rescue operations without appropriate equipment and trained personnel.
The permanent secretary advised members of the public to contact emergency services through Lagos State’s toll-free numbers, 767 or 112, when faced with emergencies.
In a separate incident, LASEMA’s Eagle Response Team from its Cappa base recovered a broken-down articulated truck carrying bags of clothes at Challenge Bus Stop, inward Cappa.
Oke-Osanyintolu said the truck had become immobile because of a damaged propeller, obstructing traffic along the route.
The agency deployed its heavy-duty equipment, known as Super Metro, to remove the vehicle and restore normal traffic flow.
He assured residents that LASEMA remained prepared to respond to emergencies across Lagos State.
