The Ogun State Government has initiated an investigation into the death of Animashahun Abayomi, a crane operator at Quantum Steel Company located in Ogijo, Sagamu Local Government Area of the state.
According to reports, the incident, which occurred on Monday, May 19, 2025, has raised concerns about industrial safety practices after allegations of gross negligence emerged from local sources.
The Sagamu Youth Association (SYA) revealed that a whistleblower who attempted to rescue the victim was allegedly arrested and falsely accused of obstructing military security personnel on duty. The eyewitness, who requested anonymity for safety reasons, claimed he was prevented from saving his colleague's life and now faces harassment for speaking out about the incident.
While securing bail for the whistleblower, the association has demanded a thorough investigation into the company's role in the death, the alleged silencing of witnesses, and what they described as a rushed burial of the deceased without following proper procedures.
Farouk Akintunde, Special Adviser to the Governor on Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA) and Chairman of the Ogun State Task Force on Environmental Compliance and Enforcement, addressed the situation on Thursday, stating that all major stakeholders have been engaged to determine the cause of the incident.
"The State Government will leave no stone unturned to unravel the mystery behind the unfortunate incident, as action shall be taken to prevent future occurrence," Akintunde said.
He emphasized that the company would face sanctions if investigations reveal that unsafe practices or negligence by the management contributed to the worker's death.
Preliminary findings from the company's Human Resources Manager, Rahmon Olanrewaju, indicated that the deceased was discovered dead around 5 pm on the day of the incident. Further investigation suggested that Abayomi suffered a cardiac arrest following the incident.
Akintunde assured that the agency would continue its investigation to establish all facts surrounding the case and take appropriate action in accordance with the state's environmental laws to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
