Tragedy struck Monday as three able-bodied men met their death as a bore hole site situated at Hanic drive by Abatete Avenue, Housing Estate 33, Onitsha, caved in.
According to an ABSRadioTV reports, two of the men hailed from Akwa Ibom State and were aged between thirty and thirty-four, while the third hailed from Plateau State.
The three were trapped in the borehole system.
According to an eyewitness, Emengini Osadebe, the one story building was besieged by sympathizers who were trying to have access and a glimpse of what happened inside the building where the tragedy occurred.
Security operatives were also at the building trying to control the surge of people who were trying to gain entrance into the building compound.
According to a report, the drilling of the borehole has been ongoing for the past three months before the incident occurred.
According to a report, the drilling of the borehole has been ongoing for the past three months before the incident occurred.
It was gathered that one of the victims was trapped in there around ten o’clock in morning, while the second person who also went in to rescue him could not make it either.
It was gathered that one of the victims was trapped in there around ten o’clock in morning, while the second person who also went in to rescue him could not make it either.
Frantic efforts were made to rescue them all to no avail. Mr. Effiong Jacob who disclosed that one of the victims was married with six children expressed surprise at the incident.
Another contractor operating in the area also from Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Emos Thankgod, said he had been at the scene of the incident since yesterday.
He attributed it to an underground heat.
Another contractor Mr. Bassey Etim Effiong, gave the name of one of the victims as James.
He said he has not experienced that kind of incident before, saying that he suspected that something strange must have happened.
Meanwhile, means of evacuating the victims were sought as various incantations’ prayers with rituals were made before the lifeless body of one of the victims was evacuated from the borehole.
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