A somber atmosphere enveloped Oju Township in Benue State as a routine task turned fatal for a father, son, and a Hausa trader, who lost their lives in a tragic well accident.
According to reports gathered by DAILY POST, the incident unfolded when Mr. Matthew Iji, popularly known as Matthew Ekpengbe, a well-known car washer in the area, sent his teenage son to fetch water from a nearby well. Tragically, during the task, the fetcher slipped from the boy’s grasp and fell into the well.
Eyewitnesses recounted that the boy, aged around 15-16 years old, attempted to retrieve the fetcher but met a tragic end inside the well. In a desperate bid to save his son, Mr. Iji rushed to the scene but succumbed to the same fate.
Adding to the distressing turn of events, a Hausa trader, who intervened to help recover the bodies, also lost his life in the process.
The bodies of the victims were swiftly transported to Holy Cross Hospital, Oju, where the Chief Medical Director, Joseph Ona, made valiant efforts to resuscitate them, unfortunately to no avail.
Speculations swirled among bystanders, with many suggesting that the accident bore the hallmarks of a mysterious occurrence. Some attributed it to potential contamination from nearby oil spillage, given the proximity of the well to a filling station.
Despite the tragic loss, observations of the victims’ bodies did not indicate signs of drowning, raising further questions about the nature of the incident.
As the community grapples with the shock of the triple tragedy, investigations are underway to unravel the circumstances surrounding this heartbreaking event.