Tragedy struck in Abuja as a building collapse claimed the lives of seven people.
The incident occurred when scavengers attempting to extract iron rods and other materials from a yet-to-be-demolished property used mallets and other tools, causing the building to cave in.
Our correspondent, Chukwuebuka Ogbodo, visited the collapse site and reports that the FCT Emergency Management Department rescued seven other victims alive and has concluded the search and rescue operation.
Sabon Lugbe, a rapidly developing area in Abuja, has been in the news lately due to the ongoing demolition of structures.
Unfortunately, this has led to a tragic incident where scavengers, who had been rummaging through the rubble for iron rods and other useful materials, caused a building to collapse, trapping over 20 people
Emergency responders arrived at the scene on Saturday night and, with the help of local vigilantes, began rescue operations.
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The search and rescue efforts continued on Sunday morning, with the acting Director-General of the FCT Emergency Management Department confirming the death of seven people
However, there are conflicting reports, with the police in Abuja and the department of development control claiming that there were no fatalities.
In a press statement by the command confirming the collapse, the PPRO of the command Josephine Adeh said preliminary investigations revealed that the building was previously demolished by the FCT Authorities due to its location in an illegally acquired area.
She said regrettably, the structure was further compromised by scavengers who had been tampering with the remnants for scrap metal, ultimately leading to its secondary collapse.
The command is calling on the public to respect the boundaries of demolished structures and construction sites, ensuring their safety and preventing similar occurrences in the future.
In addition, rumors of attacks on Fulanis in the area have been spreading, prompting the chairman of Miyetti Allah in Abuja Municipal Area Council to visit the location and debunk the rumors
Despite the incident and safety warnings from the police and emergency officials, hundreds of scavengers have continued their activities in the area, posing a significant risk to themselves and others.
Over Fifty Six Duplexes were demolished at the vIdaz Estate by the FCT department of development control on the order of the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike leading to protest by landowners who had insisted that they have valid documents from the same development control that was used to demolish their property they have invested all their life savings.
(Editor: Ebuwa Omo-Osagie)
