Rescuers search as man plunges into Lagos lagoon
Rescuers made up of the Nigeria Police Force, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and the State Waterway Authority (LASWA), yesterday, intensified search of a yet-to-be-identified man who jumped from Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge into the lagoon.
According to reports from passers-by, the man simply let himself down the massive body of water in what looks like a suicide act.
The Guardian gathered that onlookers besieged the spot to see if they could offer help before rescuers came to the scene and cordoned off the area.
One of the eyewitnesses, Temitope, tweeted: “Depression is real, that someone just jumped into the Ikoyi Link Bridge water (lagoon), right in front of me, not quite long. Hope he will not be lifeless before the rescue team arrives.”
In another tweet, Temitola said: “Someone just jumped down from Ikoyi Link Bridge. People are tired.”
Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary (PS), LASEMA, Dr Oluwafemi Oke-Osanyintolu, told The Guardian that the agency got the report and deployed officials of the Marine Rescue Unit of LASEMA to the scene.
He said: “We immediately commenced search and rescue. Let me state that the information is not clear but we have to move down there because it involves life and we are putting everything humanly possible to ensure the rescue.
“They could not give us the description of the person that jumped, but we were told that they noticed when he jumped.”
Reacting spokesperson for Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, said: “We are still searching but we are yet to sight anybody. There is no video of him jumping and we can’t confirm if he is a dispatched rider.”
Also, the General Manager, LASWA, Damilola Emmanuel, said: “We have been searching but a body cannot float until after 24 hours. We deployed our men and did our best but we can’t see anything but we will go back there tomorrow morning (today).
“We moved to the scene immediately after we got the call, but we couldn’t find anyone as an eyewitness when we got to the scene.
“My advice to Lagosians is that being depressed should not make you end your life. People should learn to talk to somebody. Lagos State has helplines 767 and 112 where people can relate to people and share their issues.
“People should also watch out for others; the Lagos State government can’t deploy men to all the bridges.”
Source:guardian.ng
