Man arrested after 3-year-old boy falls into uncovered soakaway in Abuja

A tragic incident has rocked the Durumi 2 area of Abuja after a three-year-old boy lost his life by falling into an uncovered septic tank—allegedly left exposed despite repeated warnings.

Police operatives from the Durumi divisional headquarters arrested one Philip Jallo, a resident of the area, in connection with the child’s death.

The heartbreaking event occurred on the night of July 16, 2025, around 9:00 p.m.

According to a statement released on Friday by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, preliminary investigations revealed that the soakaway had long been a safety hazard with neighbours reportedly raised multiple concerns and pleaded with the suspect to cover it, but to no avail.

“The innocent child was said to be playing within the compound when he tragically slipped and fell into the uncovered soak away. Sadly, the victim was pronounced dead at the hospital after being rescued from the tank,” the statement said.

While the suspect remains in custody, the FCT Commissioner of Police has expressed profound sorrow over the fatal incident and extended his condolences to the grieving family.

He further urged residents to prioritize environmental safety, stressing the importance of community responsibility and ensure their wards are properly monitored at all times to prevent such needless loss of life.”