Warns residents against uncovered wells amid Abule-Egba tragedy

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has averted a potential train collision at Ilupeju Bypass and rescued 10 injured passengers following a chain collision involving two commercial buses and a trailer on the Third Mainland Bridge, reinforcing its commitment to swift emergency response and public safety across Lagos State.
 
The two incidents occurred yesterday and were handled by LASEMA’s response teams in collaboration with the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the Lagos State Ambulance Service and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
 
In the first incident, LASEMA received a distress call at about 9:30 a.m. of a multiple-vehicle crash on the Third Mainland Bridge inward Adekunle. 
 
The agency’s Tiger Response Team, deployed from its Command and Control Centre, arrived at the scene at 10:05 a.m.
 
According to the agency, a commercial bus with registration number GGE 76 XW had stopped by the roadside to repair a faulty tyre when another bus, with registration number JJJ 599 YG, rammed into it from behind. A trailer subsequently struck the second bus before fleeing the scene, triggering a chain collision.
 
No fewer than 10 passengers sustained injuries of varying degrees. LASEMA paramedics, working with the Lagos State Ambulance Service, administered pre-hospital care before evacuating the injured persons to hospital for further treatment.
 
The two buses were subsequently towed to a police station with the assistance of a private towing vehicle, while emergency responders managed traffic and secured the scene. 
 
The affected section of the bridge was later cleared and reopened to motorists.

In a separate operation, LASEMA’s Cobra Squad, while on routine patrol, discovered a branded commercial bus immobilised by a mechanical fault on the railway track at Ilupeju Bypass.
 
Recognising the imminent risk of a train colliding with the stranded vehicle, the team swiftly deployed the agency’s light tow truck to remove the bus from the tracks and move it to a nearby lay-by. The timely intervention averted a potentially serious rail accident.

Personnel from LASEMA, LASTMA and the NPF participated in the operation, demonstrating the importance of effective coordination among emergency and traffic management agencies.
 
Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, commended the agency’s responders and partner organisations for their swift and coordinated actions.

He urged motorists to avoid carrying out vehicle repairs on highways and bridges, stressing the importance of regular vehicle maintenance to prevent mechanical breakdowns and reduce the risk of road accidents.
 
Residents were also advised to contact LASEMA through the toll-free emergency numbers 767 and 112 whenever they require emergency assistance.
 
The agency, however, reaffirmed its readiness to respond promptly to emergencies across Lagos State and minimise disruptions to traffic and public safety.
 
Meanwhile, LASEMA has warned residents to cover and secure wells and other dangerous openings in their homes after a two-year-old toddler and a man who attempted to rescue the child died in a tragic incident at Abule-Egba, Lagos.
 
The incident occurred on Tuesday, October 20, at No. 4, Paul Street, inward Agbe Road, when the toddler, whose mother worked as a cleaner in the compound, reportedly fell into a domestic well.
 
According to LASEMA, the tragedy took a second life when a member of the Hausa community in the neighbourhood, in a desperate attempt to save the child, climbed down the well but became trapped and could not get out.
 
The agency said it received a distress call at 9:48 a.m. and immediately dispatched its response team from the Igando Base. On arrival, the team found residents already making frantic efforts to rescue the two victims.
 
LASEMA, working with the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps and the Nigeria Police Force, began a coordinated rescue operation.
 
However, the difficult conditions inside the well, including its depth, high water level and thick mud at the bottom, complicated efforts to reach the victims.
 
The would-be rescuer was eventually recovered dead. 
 
His remains were handed over to his relatives and members of the Hausa community for burial in accordance with their customs.
 
The agency commiserated with his family and community, describing his attempt to save the toddler as an act of uncommon bravery.
 
Efforts to recover the child continued, with emergency responders attempting to drain the well. However, operational challenges and the volume of water hampered the operation.
 
LASEMA said a specialist local diver was eventually engaged to conduct a final search. 
 
The diver reportedly said that the toddler’s body had sunk deep into the mud and could not be recovered. Only one shoe belonging to the child was retrieved.
 
Following the assessment and consultations with the family and community leaders, the agency said the operation was concluded and all emergency responders returned to their bases.
 
The tragedy has renewed concerns about the dangers posed by unsecured wells in residential compounds, particularly those where young children live and play.
 
LASEMA, therefore, urged residents to ensure wells and other openings within their premises are properly covered, secured and protected with raised barriers to prevent accidental falls.
 
The agency also cautioned residents against undertaking dangerous rescue attempts without appropriate equipment and expertise, noting that such efforts could lead to additional casualties.
 
It urged the public to call the emergency toll-free numbers 767 or 112 whenever they encounter an emergency, rather than risk their lives in hazardous self-rescue efforts.
 
Lagos State Government expressed condolences to the families affected by the incident and reiterated its commitment to emergency response and protection of lives.
 
In a separate incident yesterday, LASEMA’s Eagle Response Team from its Cappa Base removed a broken-down articulated truck carrying bags of clothes from the road at Challenge Bus Stop, inward Cappa.
 
The truck had become immobile because of a damaged propeller, obstructing traffic. 
 
The agency deployed its heavy-duty recovery equipment, Super Metro, to remove the vehicle and restore the free flow of traffic.

LASEMA said it remained prepared to respond to emergencies across Lagos State.
Photo: Rescuers Caption: Rescuers at the scene.