In a heartbreaking turn of events, Mathew Ekpengbe and his neighbor lost their lives in a valiant effort to rescue his 15-year-old son, who had fallen into a public well in Oju town, Benue State.
According to eyewitnesses who spoke to The Punch, the incident happened on Saturday, sending shockwaves through the community.
Mathew, a carwash operator, had sent his son to fetch water for their business, only for the routine task to take a tragic turn.
Witnesses recounted the harrowing scene as Mathew, upon seeing his son plunge into the well, rushed to the spot in a desperate bid to save him.
Seeking assistance from a neighbor, the two men bravely descended into the well to rescue the boy.
“The boy went to fetch water but lost the fetching bucket in the well and in an attempt to retrieve the bucket, he slipped and fell into it.
“His father saw what happened and immediately called a neighbour to join him in rescuing his son from the well. Unfortunately, both of them also ended up falling into the same well.
“Bystanders who were alarmed by what happened, rushed to the scene to rescue the three of them, but none made it out alive. They were all dead when they were brought out of the well, which has been serving the people of that area for a long time,” eyewitnesses said.
Tragically, fate had other plans, and both Mathew and his neighbor succumbed to the same watery fate as they struggled to save the trapped child.
Despite efforts from bystanders to rescue them, all three were retrieved from the well lifeless, marking a devastating end to the rescue attempt.
Sources revealed that due to the circumstances of their demise, the deceased were promptly laid to rest by grieving family members.
Confirming the tragic incident, the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, Anene Swuese, stated that investigations are underway, shedding light on the ongoing efforts to unravel the details surrounding the heartbreaking tragedy.
