A 37-year-old man was rescued from a well in the Oke-Sebe area of Saki following the swift intervention of the Oyo State Fire Service.Entertainment center
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Saturday, January 17, 2026, prompted an emergency response after the agency received a distress call at exactly 9:26 a.m. through a running caller and one Alhaji Salmi, who reported that a man had fallen into a well and was trapped.
Firefighters, led by Principal Fire Superintendent II (PFS II) Kolade Taiwo, were immediately mobilised and deployed to the scene.
According to a statement from the agency, the rescue team arrived at the location at 9:29 a.m. and swiftly swung into action with the necessary rescue equipment.
Upon arrival, the officers assessed the situation and commenced a coordinated rescue operation to extract the victim from the well.
“The fire officers acted promptly and professionally. With the use of specialised rescue equipment, the trapped man was successfully removed from the well,” the agency said.
Chief Fire Superintendent (CFS) Ayegbokiki Samuel was also in attendance to supervise the operation.
Eyewitnesses said the man, whose identity was not immediately disclosed, was found alive and conscious after being pulled out of the well, drawing applause and relief from residents who had gathered at the scene.
“We were all afraid when we heard someone had fallen into the well. The fire service arrived very quickly and handled the situation with expertise. It was a big relief when we saw the man brought out alive After the successful rescue, the fire tender returned to the station at 9:55 a.m. and remained on standby for further emergency duties,” a resident said.
Commending the officers for their swift and professional response, the Special Adviser on Fire Reform and Chairman of the Fire Services Agency, Hon. Dr Maroof Adebayo Akinwande, described the operation as a clear demonstration of the agency’s readiness to protect lives and property.
Akinwande urged members of the public to always prioritise safety and take necessary precautions to avoid accidents, especially around open wells and other hazardous areas.
“Safety should always come first. People must be careful around wells, construction sites and other dangerous locations. However, whenever there is an emergency, they should not hesitate to contact the fire service immediately,” he said.
The fire chief also stressed the importance of early reporting of emergencies, noting that timely information often makes the difference between life and death.
According to him, the agency has continued to improve its response capacity through training, equipment upgrades and personnel deployment across the state.
“Our officers are trained to handle rescue operations and other emergencies professionally. We remain committed to saving lives and responding promptly whenever our services are required,” he added.
Residents of the area praised the fire service for the quick intervention, describing the rescue as heroic and reassuring.
They called on the government to continue investing in emergency services to enhance their operational efficiency and ensure the safety of citizens.
The official social media page of the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), 𝕏 to be precise, has been attacked by suspected hackers.
Naija News reports that the DHQ confirmed the development in a statement made public on Saturday, August 15, by the Director of Defence Information, Maj. General Samaila Uba.
He said the body has hence treated the incident as a cybersecurity matter, with technical measures activated to secure the account.
“The Defence Headquarters wishes to inform members of the public, the media and all stakeholders that it has detected an attempted unauthorised compromise of its official X (formerly Twitter) account.
“The incident is currently being treated as a cybersecurity matter, and appropriate technical measures have been activated to secure the account and prevent further unauthorised access,” the statement noted.
The DHQ urged members of the public to disregard any publication from the account at the moment while ensuring that efforts were ongoing to fully restore control of the official account.
“The Defence Headquarters assures the public that efforts are ongoing to fully restore control of the official account.
“Consequently, members of the public are advised to disregard any suspicious, unauthorised or misleading content that may be posted from the account during this period,” he said.
Uba stressed the DHQ’s committment to maintaining high standards of information security and ensuring that Nigerians continued to receive accurate, timely and credible information on the activities and operations of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
“We appreciate the understanding and vigilance of the public and will provide further updates as necessary,” he said.
He further urged Nigerians to henceforth check its verified accounts on other platforms, including Facebook under the name “Defence Headquarters Nigeria,” Instagram at @defenceheadquarters and its WhatsApp Channel, Defence Headquarters Nigeria for reliable information.
At least seven workers were killed and 13 injured following a landslide that sent water and debris gushing into a tunnel under construction in north India, officials said Friday.
The incident occurred late Thursday in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, where workers were constructing a tunnel for a state-run hydropower project.
At least three workers are still missing, while 19 were rescued from the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation site, the State Disaster Management Authority said in a statement.
Videos shared by local authorities showed rescue workers equipped with head-mounted torches using makeshift rafts to reach the flooded section of the tunnel.
Uttarakhand has been battered by heavy monsoon rains in recent days.
Accidents on large construction sites are common in India, but ecologists say excessive development projects have led to more disasters in the fragile Himalayan areas.
Last month, 20 people working in a tunnel for another state-run hydroelectric project were killed in the remote northeastern state of Sikkim.
In 2023, 41 workers were rescued after being trapped for 17 days inside a tunnel that collapsed in Uttarakhand.
Hundreds of people have been killed in floods and landslides across the country since the start of the annual monsoon season in June.
Experts say climate change, coupled with poorly planned development, is increasing the frequency, severity, and impact of the disasters.
The Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union has honoured the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Mr Oluwatosin Ajayi, with the ‘Golden Era Pillar of Critical and Strategic Intelligence for National Development Award’, as part of activities marking its 50th anniversary
RATTAWU conferred the award on Ajayi on Thursday at his office, when the National President of the group, Emeka Kalu, led members to a media/security-critical engagement and strategic partnership meeting for national development in Abuja.
Kalu praised the appointment of Ajayi in 2024 by President Bola Tinubu, describing it as putting “a round peg in a round hole.”
He added that the award was an initiative of the union designed to recognise individuals and institutions that had made outstanding contributions to national development, security, democracy, culture and the growth of Nigeria.
He said, “Your appointment by Mr President demonstrates the importance of placing capable Nigerians with integrity and professional competence in strategic positions of national responsibility.
“The role of the DSS in protecting Nigeria’s national interests, gathering critical intelligence and supporting national security cannot be overemphasised.
“Particularly now that this country is confronted with complex security and emerging technological challenges, appointments like yours are the best ever done by Mr President.
“That is why this union decided to honour you with the Golden Era Pillar of Critical and Strategic Intelligence for National Development Award.”
Responding, the DSS Director-General, Oluwatosin Ajayi, expressed appreciation to the leadership of RATTAWU for the honour.
Ajayi described the recognition as a significant gesture that would further encourage him and the service to remain committed to their responsibilities to the nation.
