A digger, known simply as Mallam Suleiman, died in a well at the Adewole Housing Estate in Ilorin, capital of Kwara State, on Thursday.

Suleiman, who was a native of Kebbi State, was said to have died shortly after leaving his residence for a building site at the housing estate in company with a colleague.

A close associate of the deceased, Mallam Mohammed, told journalists in Ilorin on Friday that Suleiman died after a slab he was casting inside a well collapsed on him.

He said sympathisers and neighbours made a spirited, but futile attempt to rescue the deceased.

 He said, "The death of Suleiman was a big tragedy. When the concrete slab fell on him inside the well, his colleague was helpless and was only able to call out to people around but all efforts in the end could not save his life. 

"He quickly ran around to seek help of people in the neighbourhood.  When they threw a rope inside the well for him to come out with, the rope also got cut, which made him to fall back with a thud, a situation that made him to die later in the well." 

Suleiman's corpse was said to have been deposited at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital.