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Two Laborers Drown While Retrieving Bucket from Osun Well

Published by Tope Fakinlede on June 7th, 2024.

Two Laborers Drown While Retrieving Bucket from Osun Well

On Thursday, two laborers working at a construction site in Ile-Ife, Osun State, tragically drowned in a well while trying to retrieve a water bucket. Their identities have not yet been confirmed.

The incident occurred around 1:09 pm at a construction site opposite Ilesa Motor Park on the Ife-Ilesa Expressway. Eyewitnesses reported that the bucket being used to fetch water had fallen into the well.

One of the laborers entered the well to retrieve the bucket but did not return. Realizing his partner was in danger, the second laborer also descended into the well to rescue him but became trapped as well.

The situation escalated quickly, prompting bystanders to contact the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Federal Fire Service for assistance. The spokesperson for the NSCDC in Osun State, Kehinde Adeleke, confirmed that operatives from both agencies retrieved the bodies from the well.

Adeleke explained, “A tragic incident happened today, Thursday, June 6, 2024, opposite Ilesa Motor Park along Ife-Ilesa road, Ile-Ife around 1:09 pm. Two middle-aged men from Iwo were engaged as workmen on a building project opposite Ilesa Motor Park, Ile-Ife.

“The unfortunate incident occurred when the two workmen were fetching water from a deep well, and the bucket accidentally fell in. According to eyewitness accounts, one of the workmen, in an attempt to retrieve the bucket, entered the well but got trapped and drowned. A rescue attempt by the second workman led to his drowning as well. The corpses of the two men were retrieved through the joint efforts of the NSCDC and Federal Fire Service operatives.”