Two persons have been confirmed dead on Friday and five rescued after a two-storey building collapsed in Kubwa Satellite town in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The building, which was still under construction, collapsed at Hamza Abdullahi Street Off Gado Nasco Road, at about 11:30 pm on Thursday.
The two victims were a gateman identified only as Mr Abdullahi and a tiller; identified only as Mr Bolaji, who was also trapped in the rubble and confirmed dead on Friday. Abdullahi reportedly died at 6:30 pm on Friday, while Bolaji was found dead two hours after.
Five of the victims were rescued by a joint task force of operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Nigeria Police Force, and some residents.
Officials of the National Emergency Management Agency were also at the location of the incident.
Abdullahi’s son, Shuaibu, was one of the victims earlier evacuated from the collapsed building and taken to a general hospital to receive treatment.
Abdullahi, who spoke to our correspondent before his father’s corpse was found, had noted that his dad was one of the two other persons trapped in the building.
He said, “I was rescued with the other four persons, but my dad who is a security man is still in the rubble and I sustained injuries.”
Another rescued victim, Hafeez Olayinka, who also spoke to our correspondent, noted that he and four others were rescued in the early hours of Friday, and taken to a hospital.
“At about 11:30 pm on Thursday, we noticed that the building was collapsing, and we tried to escape. But five of us were rescued this morning (Friday), and they took us to the hospital.” He said.
The Minister of State for the FCT, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, who visited the scene of the incident, commiserated with the affected families. Thanking the first responders and authorities of the FCT Administration for their swiftness in rescuing the survivors, Aliyu wished the injured a speedy recovery, and also prayed for the repose of the souls of the victims.
She said, “It was with a heavy heart that the FCT Administration received this sad news, and for those in the hospital, we wish them a quick recovery. So far, this is the last recovered body, and he has been confirmed dead. We are still waiting to hear from the National Hospital. May God give the families the fortitude to bear the loss. There were five cases; two were discharged, while three others are still receiving treatments.
“The building was at the tiling stage and we have with us here the companies and agencies of government such as Fire Service, Police, Development Control, DSS, Road Safety and directors of all agencies that kept fit and hope alive in search of persons that may still be alive.”
Earlier on Friday, the coordinator of Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, Umar Shuaibu, told journalists that they were making efforts to rescue the other victims trapped.
Shuaibi said, “Two among the rescued are out of the hospital while three victims are still in the hospital. Usually in construction sites like this, we cannot determine who and who are inside. As you can see, we are making sure that all hands are on deck to rescue the trapped victims.’’
Also, spokesperson for the FCT Minister, Mr Attah Ikharo, who spoke to City Round, noted that the FCT Administration made efforts to rescue victims, especially the deceased, and the last person reportedly trapped in the building.
He said, “I have been going around the issue of the collapsed building, and five persons have been rescued so far, and another male have been pulled out of the rubble but he seems to have been confirmed dead and have been taken to the morgue at the Kubwa general hospital.’’