Missing Lagos drainage worker yet to be found

Emergency responders are still searching for an unidentified drainage worker who became trapped while clearing debris from an underground tunnel in Lagos State's Onipanu area.

The incident occurred on Monday while the worker was de-silting drainage in the community. As of Wednesday afternoon, the search had been ongoing for 48 hours.

Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA), stated that the worker was employed by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority and worked for Drain Ducks. The worker got trapped in the tunnel while attempting to dislodge debris from the underground drainage system.

A LASEMA official, who requested anonymity, indicated that if the ongoing search remains unsuccessful, the worker may be declared missing, prompting a police investigation to identify him.

The agency has been conducting operations since early morning, digging the surroundings and linking drainage systems in search of the victim. However, there has been no sighting of the trapped worker so far.

Regarding police involvement, the LASEMA source mentioned that no report had been received from the police about the incident. The official noted that if any relative of the missing worker reports his absence, the police would then engage with LASEMA.

A separate source within the agency shared insights into the possible cause of the accident, suggesting that water accumulation in the drainage might have swept the worker away when he removed the blockage.