A 25-year-old man has lost his life after falling into a soakaway at the Kinnira area opposite Zion Christian Academy School in Ogbomoso North Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The incident occurred on Friday when the victim, whose identity had yet to be disclosed as of the time of filing this report, reportedly attempted to inspect an abandoned structure in the area.
The Oyo State Fire Services Agency confirmed the development on Saturday, saying its personnel recovered the lifeless body from the soakaway.
The Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Fire Reform and Chairman of the agency, Moroof Akinwande, disclosed in a statement that the agency received a distress call at about 7:41 pm from a resident identified as John Onigbinde.
According to him, the caller alerted the agency that a man had fallen into a soakaway in the Kinnira area of Ogbomoso.
Akinwande explained that a rescue team led by Chief Fire Superintendent Dairo was immediately deployed to the scene to carry out emergency operations.
He said the firefighters applied necessary rescue procedures and succeeded in recovering the victim from the pit.
“The rescue team swiftly mobilised to the scene and carried out all required rescue operations.
The victim was later recovered and handed over to officers of the Nigeria Police Force, Owode Division, Ogbomoso,” he said.
He added that preliminary findings revealed that the deceased had attempted to inspect storage tanks located near the soakaway to check the water level before the tragic incident occurred.
“While trying to cross the area, he lost his balance and accidentally fell into the soakaway,” Akinwande added.
The fire service boss, however, cautioned residents against leaving soakaways, wells and similar openings uncovered, warning that such structures pose grave dangers to members of the public if not properly secured.