Identity Confirmed: Man Who Jumped into Lagos Lagoon Identified as Buka Abana

The individual who tragically plunged into the lagoon near the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge area of Lagos on Tuesday has now been identified as Buka Abana. After several days of intense search efforts, rescue workers succeeded in recovering Abana’s lifeless body on Thursday.

Buka Abana, a 30-year-old resident of Lekki Phase I, had reportedly departed from his residence approximately two days prior to the incident. Sources indicate that he was grappling with drug addiction, having reportedly been consuming Colorado, a potent and dangerous narcotic.

Distressed by his disappearance, Abana’s family members initiated a search party to locate him. Their quest led them to the vicinity of the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge, where they received a tip-off about his presence in the area. Determined to bring him back home, they rushed to the location.

Regrettably, upon sighting his family members, Buka Abana reacted impulsively, jumping into the lagoon in a desperate attempt to evade them. This tragic event unfolded against a backdrop of the ongoing battle with substance abuse that had consumed his life.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed these details in an interview, revealing, “The man’s name is Buka Abana. He was aged 30. He had been taking Colorado hard drugs. He left home for two days and in the process of searching for him, he sighted the family members and jumped into the lagoon as soon as he saw them.”

Earlier reports from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Services had indicated that Abana’s lifeless body had been retrieved from the lagoon on Thursday. The collaborative efforts of various agencies, including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Waterways Authority, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Lagos State Health, Environmental Monitoring Unit, and local communities, contributed to the recovery operation.

A statement by Amodu Shakiru, the Head of Public Education at the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Services, affirmed, “The search and rescue operations began in earnest immediately after the alert of the incident was received around 2.53pm and culminated in the recovery of the body today (Thursday) around 9.15am at the LASEMA end of the lagoon bank.”

Following the successful recovery operation, Abana’s body was handed over to his family in collaboration with the LASEMA Response Unit, SEHMU (State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit), LASWA (Lagos State Waterways Authority) Rescue Team, and officers from the Nigerian Police Force’s Maroko Divisional Police Station. With the conclusion of the operation, the family now has the somber task of laying their loved one to rest.