A woman has died after falling into a 170-foot well at a construction site in the Ijegun area of Lagos State. Her body was recovered on Thursday, July 10, following a multi-agency recovery operation coordinated by the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service.

According to a statement issued Friday by the agency’s Senior Public Affairs Officer, Maria Fadairo, the incident occurred on Monday, June 30, at a one-storey building under construction on Abuba Anthony Street, near Obalagbe Bus Stop and close to Fadeko International Hotel.

Responders from the Ejigbo Fire Station were dispatched following a distress call received at 7:34 p.m. The woman, whose identity has not yet been disclosed, reportedly fell into the well located at the front of the construction site, which sits on a 648-square-metre fenced plot with six two-bedroom flats.

Due to the depth and location of the well, the operation to retrieve the victim required the combined efforts of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Nigeria Police, Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU), and other emergency response teams.

“The recovery operation was led by the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service in collaboration with other emergency response and security agencies. The victim was recovered dead and handed over to officials of SEHMU, while the Lagos State Ambulance Service stood by as the Nigeria Police observed proceedings,” the statement said.

Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, offered condolences to the family of the deceased and praised the efforts of the emergency responders. She also raised concerns about safety standards at building sites.

“A 170-foot uncovered well is a severe hazard that must never be left unsecured,” she said, urging greater enforcement of safety regulations to prevent future incidents.

The Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, has taken over further investigation into the incident.