Following Saturday’s tragic building collapse in Abuja’s Sabon Lugbe area along Airport Road, the Federal Capital Territory – FCT Police Command has launched an investigation into the incident. The collapse claimed seven lives, while five others were rescued from the rubble. Authorities confirm the building, located in Gidash Estate, was previously marked for demolition by the FCT’s Department of Development Control.
Scavengers Triggered Collapse, Says Emergency Department
Abdulrahman Mohammed, Acting Director General of the FCT Emergency Department (FEMD), explained in a statement that the building was marked for removal, and that the collapse occurred when scavengers dismantled support structures while searching for iron rods. “These individuals took advantage of the weekend when no demolition activities were scheduled and began stripping the iron rods from pillars, leading to the tragic collapse,” Mohammed stated.
The statement, issued by FEMD Head of Public Affairs, Nkechi Isa, also highlighted that the Chairman of Miyetti Allah, FCT Chapter, Mohammed Hussein, confirmed the identities of five association members who perished in the collapse.
Search and Rescue Operations Conclude
The FEMD has since called off its search and rescue efforts, as further excavation at the site revealed no additional persons trapped. Mohammed appealed to scavengers to avoid demolition sites, stressing that unauthorized tampering with such structures poses severe risks.
Isa also noted that two individuals, initially rescued with minor injuries, had returned to the site to scavenge once again. Despite warnings, they resumed dismantling another nearby building, which led to a secondary collapse and their subsequent fatalities.
FCT Police Confirm Incident, Urge Public to Respect Boundaries
The FCT Police Command, through its spokesperson SP Josephine Adeh, confirmed the collapse, stating that the building had previously been demolished due to illegal acquisition. Preliminary investigations reveal that scavengers compromised the structure while salvaging scrap metal, leading to its secondary collapse. Adeh urged residents to respect the boundaries of demolition sites, emphasizing the need for safety to prevent future incidents.
Development Control Dismisses Reports as “Propaganda”
Muktar Galadima, Director of Development Control for the FCT, refuted reports framing the incident as a multi-storey building collapse. He stated that the structure was an uncompleted building demolished days earlier. Galadima reported an overwhelming presence of over 500 scavengers dismantling the site for scrap, which ultimately triggered the collapse of a slab.
“This structure was part of an ongoing demolition site, an uncompleted building that was taken down on Thursday,” Galadima stated. “The influx of scavengers, exceeding 500 in number, disrupted the remnants, leading to this tragic accident.”
-Sponsored Ad-
Leave a comment