The Oyo State Fire Services Agency has recovered the lifeless body of a 25-year-old man from a soakaway at Kinnira area, opposite Zion Christian Academy School, Ogbomoso, in Ogbomoso North Local Government Area of the state.

The victim, whose name was not disclosed, was said to have fallen into the soakaway on Friday while attempting to inspect an abandoned structure.

The incident was confirmed in a statement on Saturday by the Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Fire Reform and Chairman of the agency, Moroof Akinwande.

Akinwande said the command received a distress call at about 7:41 pm on Friday, May 22, from one John Onigbinde, reporting that a man had fallen into a soakaway in the area.

He said fire service personnel led by CFS Dairo were immediately deployed to the scene for rescue operations.

“The rescue team immediately swung into action by applying all necessary rescue knots and operational procedures. Within a short period of time, the victim recovered and was handed over to officers of the Nigeria Police Force, Owode Division, Ogbomoso.

“The post-incident investigation revealed that the man attempted to inspect the storage tanks located close to the soakaway to determine the level of the water. During the process of crossing the area, he accidentally lost his balance and fell into the soakaway,” he stated.

He urged residents to exercise caution around soakaways, wells and other uncovered openings, warning that such sites pose serious safety risks if left unsecured. (Sunday PUNCH, excluding headline)

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