A 68-year-old man, Ahmed Olaniyan, narrowly escaped death after falling into a well while attempting to retrieve his mobile phone in the Molefalafia area of Oke-Ado, Ibadan, Oyo State.
The incident occurred at Mobolorunduro Mosque on Ajeigbe Street and was confirmed by Moroof Adebayo Akinwande, Special Adviser to the Governor on Fire Services Agency Reform and Chairman of the agency.
In a statement released on Sunday, June 8, 2025, Akinwande explained that the Oyo State Fire Service received a distress call at 6:10 a.m. from a man identified as Mr. Samuel, reporting that someone had fallen into a well at the mosque premises.
Emergency responders, led by Assistant Chief Fire Superintendent Mrs. Adedeji, were immediately dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, they discovered that Mr. Olaniyan had become trapped in the well after attempting to retrieve his phone without any safety equipment or training.
Fire service personnel promptly carried out a rescue operation, employing safety ropes and standard precautionary procedures. The man was successfully brought out alive and handed over to his family for medical attention and care.
Akinwande emphasized that the incident was the result of ignorance and a lack of awareness about the dangers of entering confined spaces like wells without proper training or equipment. He urged members of the public to avoid taking such risks.
He also reiterated the commitment of the Oyo State government to safeguarding lives and property, highlighting the ongoing efforts to reform and strengthen emergency response services across the state.
