A tragic scene unfolded at Seedu Sabarumu, Sango area of Saki Local Government in Oyo State on Wednesday, June 19, as the body of a two-year-old girl was recovered from a deep well by officials of the Oyo State Fire Services.
The disturbing discovery was made after a distress call at exactly 1:43 p.m. alerted the Saki Zonal Command of the Fire Services to the emergency at Orita Mokola Junction. Eyewitnesses reported seeing the toddler near the well shortly before her sudden disappearance, triggering panic and an urgent rescue mission.
Led by PFS11 Officer Saka, the response team swiftly arrived at the scene and deployed rescue equipment. CFM Adediran Jacob bravely descended into the well for the search operation. Despite best efforts, the child was retrieved lifeless and was handed over to a police team led by CSP Odunbanjo Kehinde.
The Special Adviser on Fire Services Reform to Governor Seyi Makinde, Maroof Akinwande, confirmed the incident and noted that a full investigation is underway. The Post Incident Investigation Team is expected to determine whether negligence or foul play contributed to the toddler’s tragic fall.
Locals described the area as densely populated with several unsealed wells and septic pits left open and poorly maintained. Safety experts say such open structures pose daily threats to children and vulnerable members of the community, urging immediate action.
Governor Makinde’s administration has vowed to push forward with the Fire Services Reform plan, focusing on public safety awareness and infrastructure monitoring. Meanwhile, families in Saki are left mourning a loss that could have been prevented with basic safety precautions.
Akinwande issued a fresh warning to residents, saying: “We strongly advise the public to secure wells, boreholes, and septic pits. These structures must not remain death traps waiting to claim innocent lives.”
