Residents of an apartment building in Banana Island, Lagos State, were on Wednesday rescued after being trapped in an elevator for more than an hour.
The occupants were freed following the intervention of officials from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency.
The incident drew attention on social media after a video surfaced online showing the distressed residents raising the alarm while stuck inside the lift.
In the clip, the occupants appeared visibly uncomfortable and sweating as they called for urgent help.
A social media user who posted the video claimed the incident occurred in an apartment complex located near the Banana Island School Apartment.
According to the user, the occupants had reached out to the landlord’s daughter for assistance but were informed that the building management would address the situation.
“We are currently trapped inside the lift at the Banana Island School apartment. We have been here for almost 40 minutes,” one of the trapped occupants said in the video.
“We are suffocating here and nobody seems to be doing anything about it. We even contacted the landlady’s daughter and she said they would see what they could do.”
Confirming the development, the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr Oluwafemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said the victims were rescued after an emergency response by the agency and other responders.
He explained that LASEMA operatives collaborated with personnel from the Federal Fire Service, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and the National Emergency Management Agency to carry out the rescue operation.
According to him, the agencies responded swiftly after receiving a distress call and successfully evacuated the trapped occupants.
Oke-Osanyintolu added that the victims were attended to at the scene and reassured after being freed from the elevator.
He also urged residents to promptly report faulty or damaged elevators to relevant authorities to prevent similar incidents.
“Residents are advised to notify the safety commission or the fire services by writing to them so that necessary action can be taken,” he said.