Metro

Motor Boy Searching For Bucket Drowns In Well

Published

3 years ago

February 20, 2023

The family and colleagues of a 27-year-old motor boy have been thrown into mourning after he drowned while trying to remove a bucket that fell in a well at Alaja community, in the Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State.

It was gathered that a truck driver and the motor boy were heading to a destination in the state when the truck developed a mechanical fault around the Powerline/Moniya end of the new Ibadan/Oyo Expressway.

It was learnt that the driver, after parking the truck, was assessing it to trace the source of the problem when the motor boy reached for a bucket and went in search of water to fill the radiator.

In the course of searching for water, our correspondent, who visited the community on Sunday, discovered that the motor boy went to one of the mechanic shops in Alaja community where he found a well.

An eyewitness, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said the motor boy, upon sighting the well, moved closer and started searching for a fetcher to get water from the well but did not find any.

In a bid to get water, the resident said the motor boy tied a rope to the bucket and threw it in the well, adding that in the process of fetching the water, the rope cut and the bucket fell into the well.

Desperate to get the bucket, the resident said the motor boy entered the well and drowned.

The resident said, “I saw the young man yesterday (Saturday) when the driver parked the truck. I think the truck developed a little fault. As a motor boy, he must look for water for the radiator.

“He searched for a drawer and didn’t see one; he then tied a rope to a bucket. But unfortunately, the rope suddenly cut into two and the bucket fell inside the well. So he drowned when he entered the well to remove the bucket.”

The resident said people got to know that the motor boy had drowned when the truck driver raised the alarm after finding his slippers close to the well, adding that emergency rescue operatives that were alerted visited the area to retrieve the victim’s corpse from the well.

“Nobody was aware until a few minutes later when his boss was looking for him. He saw his slippers beside the well and raised the alarm. At that time, nobody was courageous enough to enter there to pick up the corpse until the arrival of the officials of the fire service with the assistance of police officers.

“We don’t know his identity, we only heard that the victim joined the driver through the driver’s friend and the driver has contacted his family members through his friend and the corpse has been taken away,” the eyewitness said.

As the investigation into the case commenced, PUNCH Metro gathered that the well had been sealed.

It was observed that an iron sheet had been used to cover the well and a stone was placed on the sheet to prevent people from fetching water from the well.

When contacted on the telephone, the state Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Williams, confirmed the incident.

“We had a case of drowning yesterday in the area,” he simply said.

The General Manager of the State Fire Service, Yemi Akinyinka, also confirmed the incident but declined further comment.

Metro

JUST IN: Fire Guts Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone In Igbesa

Published

13 hours ago

January 11, 2026

Editor

A fire broke out on Sunday at the Ogun State Guangdong Free Trade Zone in Igbesa.

As of this report, there has been no official statement on what caused the incident. However, a resident said the fire was triggered by a gas explosion from a foam-producing company in the industrial park.

The source added that the fire spread quickly, affecting nearby houses before emergency responders arrived.

Details later…

Metro

AAU Postpones Resumption Date

Published

1 day ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

The management of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, has approved, on behalf of the university’s Senate, the postponement of students’ resumption and commencement of academic activities.

In a statement,
Otunba Mike Aladenika,
Head, Information, Public Relations & Protocol, AAU, said the decision became necessary to enable the university to complete ongoing renovation works on student structures and facilities, aimed at enhancing the overall teaching and learning experience.

“According to him, the management is committed to providing a conducive environment for academic excellence and believes that this temporary adjustment will ultimately benefit our students.

“While the university management intends to announce a new resumption date, any student(s) still in our hostels are advised to vacate with immediate effect to allow for effective ongoing renovation works

“In light of this development, the university regrets to announce that the 140th Inaugural Lecture, originally scheduled for Thursday, 15th January 2026, and ongoing examinations have been postponed.

“A new date for the lecture and the completion of the examinations will be communicated to all stakeholders in due course.

“The university appreciates the understanding and cooperation of students, parents, and guardians on this matter.

“We urge all students to adhere to the new resumption date and prepare for a productive academic session.

“Parents and guardians are kindly requested to ensure their children/wards are aware of and comply with the revised resumption schedule.”

Metro

Protest Rocks Ekpoma Over Incessant Kidnapping

Published

1 day ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

Residents of Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State on Saturday protested against incessant kidnappings in the area.

Ekpoma, in recent times has been under attack by kidnappers who snatched residents from their homes.

The protest grounded commercial activities as students of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, also joined in the protest.

The protesters, in anger, also pulled down campaign billboards for the 2027 general elections mounted in the university hosting town.

Speaking on the protest, Principal Security Officer to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Austin Eigbiremolen, assured that adequate security would be deployed to Ekpoma.

According to him, the kidnappers would be chased away from the area in no distance time.

Also reacting to the protest, Edo State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, dismissed was top of the security situation in Ekpoma, adding the state Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, was already in Ekpoma.

Ikoedem said nine persons who were kidnapped on Friday were rescued unhurt after the Eagle Combat Drone Unit was deployed to the forest alongside local hunters.

“In the heat of the rescue operation, the kidnappers’ camp was located through real-time aerial intelligence.

“The ground troops stormed the camp, forcing the kidnappers to flee and abandon two locally fabricated AK-49 rifles.

“The victims, including five children were rescued unhurt. This landmark deployment underscores the transformative role of technology in modern policing and sets a new benchmark for operational enhancement in Edo State,” she said.