Tragedy struck at the Otovwodo Market in Ughelli, headquarters of Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, in the early hours of Friday following the discovery of the lifeless body of a young boy, believed to be between 10 and 11 years old, in a water-filled excavation site.
The incident occurred at the ongoing Otovwodo Junction flyover project, being handled by Julius Berger Nigeria Plc in Ughelli.
Key Highlights:
- A young boy (estimated age 10–11) was found dead in a water-filled excavation site at the Otovwodo Market area in Delta State.
- The incident happened at the Otovwodo Junction flyover project being handled by Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.
- Residents alleged negligence, saying the excavation site was left uncovered and without warning signs, especially after heavy rainfall caused flooding.
- Locals believe the boy may have fallen into the hidden pit at night and was not rescued in time due to lack of visibility and safety barriers.
- Police have evacuated the body, while residents are calling for investigation and stricter safety enforcement at construction sites.
The boy’s body was found submerged in murky floodwater that had accumulated in a freshly dug drainage pit at the site.
Residents said the discovery was made at daybreak, sending shockwaves across the busy market community.
Eyewitnesses attributed the incident to what they described as negligence on the part of the construction company, alleging that the excavation was left uncovered and without warning signs.
“They dug that place just yesterday (Thursday), and after the heavy rain, the whole area was flooded,” one trader said.
“There was no sign, no barricade, nothing to show that there was a deep pit there.”
Another resident explained that the location previously served as a pedestrian walkway before it was altered by the construction work.
“That place used to be a normal walkway. Anyone familiar with the area would assume it was still safe to pass, especially when the water covered everything.
“The boy probably didn’t know it had been turned into a pit,” the resident said.
Locals believe the child may have fallen into the concealed excavation during the night when the area was deserted.
“It must have happened late at night when everywhere was quiet. Even if he cried for help, there was nobody around to hear him,” another eyewitness stated.
Residents also lamented that since construction began, the area has experienced persistent flooding, leading to repeated losses.
“Since this project started, flooding has been a serious problem here. We’ve lost goods worth millions of naira,” a shop owner said.
Some witnesses claimed the boy appeared to be unfamiliar in the area, suggesting he might have been a homeless child or one of the young boys who frequent the market for menial jobs.
“Nobody has come forward to identify him. We don’t know where he came from. Some people say he used to roam around and sleep on the pavements,” a resident added.
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There were also distressing accounts regarding the condition of the body during recovery.
“When they pulled him out, his stomach had burst and fresh blood was still coming out. It showed he had not been dead for long,” an eyewitness recounted.
Police officers from the Ughelli ‘A’ Division later arrived at the scene and evacuated the body.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the identity of the deceased nor an official statement from Julius Berger Nigeria Plc had been confirmed.
Residents are, however, calling for a thorough investigation and urging authorities to enforce stricter safety measures at construction sites to prevent further loss of life.
