Again, Another artisan drowns in Osun well

A 38-year-old artisan, Sikiru Tiamiyu, on Saturday drowned inside a well in a residential building in Dada Estate, Osogbo.

The incident which threw the neighbourhood into panic was reportedly the second in the last 17 days. It was learnt that another artisan, whose name could not be immediately ascertained, was electrocuted while working on a pumping machine inside the well on Wednesday, October 19.

In the two incidents, two persons were injured and had to be treated in hospitals.

Sources familiar with the incident said immediately the artisan was observed to be drowning, and men of the Osun State Fire Service were called.

Speaking during an interview with Sunday PUNCH, the Public Relations Officer of Osun State Fire Service, Ibrahim Adekunle, said apart from the artisan brought out of the well dead, one other person was injured in the incident and hospitalised.

Adekunle said, “Today, Saturday, November 5, 2022, men of the Osun State Fire Service, Oke fia Station received a distress call from Zone 5A, Oke Arungbo Community, Dada Estate, Osogbo at exactly 10: 45am that two men were trapped in a well.

“The team, led by Principal Fire Superintendent 1, Adegoke Sesan, immediately mobilised to the scene. Bodies of the two men were recovered with one alive and taken to an undisclosed hospital by residents, while the other was brought out dead and handed over to the police. The deceased, one Mr Sikiru Tiamiyu of about 38 years, was working to clean up the well.

“Similar incident occurred in the same well on October 19, 2022. The victim, a technician too, was working on the coil of a pumping machine inside the well and he eventually got electrocuted and died on the spot. His co-worker was rescued alive and taken to a hospital.”