A man has died after entering a domestic well in an attempt to rescue a two-year-old child who had fallen into it in Abule Egba, Lagos State, while emergency responders were unable to recover the toddler despite an extensive search.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at No. 4, Paul Street, inward Agbe Road, according to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).
In a statement issued by the agency’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, LASEMA said it received a distress call at approximately 9:48 a.m. and immediately dispatched a response team from its Igando base.
The toddler reportedly fell into the well while the child’s mother, who worked as a cleaner at the residential compound, was there. A man from the Hausa community in the area subsequently entered the well in an attempt to save the child but became trapped and could not climb out.
The man was later recovered dead, turning the rescue attempt into a second tragedy.
LASEMA, working alongside the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps and the Nigeria Police Force, launched a coordinated operation to recover the toddler and assist those affected.
However, the rescue teams encountered significant difficulties because of the well’s depth, high water level and thick mud at the bottom. Efforts to drain the water proved challenging, prompting the deployment of a specialist local diver to conduct a final search.
According to the agency, the diver reported that the toddler’s body had sunk deep into the mud and could not be retrieved. Only one shoe belonging to the child was recovered during the operation.
Following an expert assessment and consultations with the affected family and community leaders, LASEMA announced the conclusion of the search operation. The agency said all responding teams subsequently returned to their respective bases.
The rescuer’s remains were handed over to his relatives and members of the Hausa community for burial in accordance with their customs.
Oke-Osanyintolu expressed condolences to both bereaved families and the Hausa community, acknowledging the man’s attempt to save the toddler. The Lagos State Government also conveyed its sympathy to those affected by the incident.
The tragedy has drawn attention to the dangers posed by unsecured domestic wells, particularly in residential compounds where young children live or visit. An uncovered or inadequately protected well can become a serious hazard, and an attempt to enter one without appropriate equipment and trained rescue personnel can put additional lives at risk.
LASEMA urged residents to ensure that wells and other openings within their premises are properly covered, raised and secured. The agency also advised the public to contact emergency responders rather than attempt dangerous rescues themselves.
Residents requiring emergency assistance in Lagos can call the toll-free numbers 767 or 112.
As of the agency’s announcement, the toddler remained unrecovered, and the search operation had been formally concluded. The deaths of the child and the would-be rescuer have left two families grieving following an incident that began with an accidental fall.
