Posted on: 07:03 Fri, 26 Feb 2016



A newly-wed plumber, Mr. Emeka
Okpala, has drowned while
installing a pumping machine in a
deep well on Oladogba Street in the
Ikosi-Ketu area of Lagos.

40yrs old Okpala was not the one
originally contracted for the job,
but after the first plumber
declined, the victim decided to take
up the job.

He was said to be descending the
well when he fell and died.

When PUNCH visited the scene, a
resident, Bilikisu Idris, said that the
newly-wed died because the person
who contracted him to do the job
did not raise the alarm on time.

She said, “Emeka (Okpala) was a
very popular man on this street. He
used to drive a BMW car, which he
brought yesterday (Wednesday) to
do the work. He was into all kinds
of jobs and was very hardworking.

He recently got wedded.

“The owner of the well wanted to
install a submersible pumping
machine. Those who were asked to
do the job turned it down and said
the well was old. When he was
called, Emeka said he could do it
since it was not his first time.

“He tied a rope to a generator and
was descending the well when the
generator fell on him in the well.

He was crushed.”

Another resident, Ms Kunle
Odunubi, also said it took a long
time before the victim could get
help.

She said, “The firefighters brought
him out of the well and took him in
a car en route to a hospital.

“But by the time they got to Ketu,
the man had given up the ghost. If
somebody had raised the alarm
early enough, maybe this would not
have happened.”