A three-year-old boy, Chibuike Uba, has died after falling into an uncovered soakaway in the Babarinsa area of Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State.
The heartbreaking event happened on Wednesday when Chibuike’s mother, Utoro, visited her aunt in the community from her residence in the Epe area of the state.
It was gathered that the young mother was packing her belongings to return home when her son left the room to join his aunt, who had stepped outside to make a phone call.
Upon her return, the aunt inquired about the child’s whereabouts, assuming he had gone back inside. However, Chibuike was nowhere to be found, prompting an immediate search.
During the search, Utoro discovered her son’s slippers beside an uncovered soakaway located in a neighbouring compound.
The property reportedly lacks fencing, allowing easy access to the hazardous pit. She immediately raised an alarm and efforts were made to rescue the child.
Utoro recounted the ordeal in an emotional tone to our correspondent on Thursday, saying:
“I visited my aunt and was packing my bags to head back home when she received a call and my son followed her outside. I continued packing, assuming he was still with her.
“When she came back inside, I asked about my son’s whereabouts, and she claimed he had returned inside. I said no and quickly rushed outside to search for him but couldn’t find him.
“That was when I noticed his slippers near the soakaway on the next compound beside the house because it has no fence. I immediately shouted that my baby was inside the soakaway. That was how we quickly made efforts to pull him out and rushed him to the hospital.”
Chibuike was initially taken to a nearby private hospital in the Sapati area, where he was referred to the General Hospital in Akodo. Despite being placed on oxygen upon arrival, medical personnel later confirmed his death.
Utoro blamed negligence for the incident, alleging that her aunt had previously warned the landlord about the danger posed by the open soakaway. She said the warnings went unheeded.
“My aunt called the man and said she had repeatedly warned him to close the soakaway, but he kept promising to.
“Even the plank that my aunt used to cover it was damaged by the flood. As I speak to you, the soakaway is still open,” she said.
