Construction workers trap inside Anambra three-storey building wey collapse

One three-storey building wey still dey under construction don collapse for Okpuno, Awka, Anambra State capital, near the Anambra State House of Assembly, off Ekwueme Square, around 11:40am on Thursday. The building wey get four suspended floors still dey for roofing stage when e suddenly fall, scatter everywhere, and throw people for the area into panic. People wey see as e happen talk say the building no give any sign before e collapse. Dem talk say e still dey hard to confirm how many people, especially construction workers, fit don trap under the debris. As at the time wey dem write the report, officials from Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and material testing department don show face for the site to check wetin cause the collapse. Our reporter wey go the place see say the area don already dey sealed, but some bystanders and passers-by begin rescue efforts on their own to try save anybody wey fit still dey inside. But wahala dey as rescue work no too go well because better equipment like excavators no dey ground to carry out proper rescue.

One eyewitness talk say, “The building collapse this morning as some artisans dey work for the roof. We just hear some kind sound, next thing na the whole thing fall. Government people don come, but dem talk say dem still dey wait for excavators before rescue go start.” Chairman of COREN-ERM for Anambra, Sir Victor Meju, confirm say na private three-storey building with four suspended floors, and say dem just roof am last week Thursday. He talk say, “Preliminary investigation for the site show say the whole building just fall down from top to bottom. The collapse fit be because of poor concrete mixture and wahala with the foundation.” He still add say Ministry of Housing and Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA) don dey ground already to monitor and help with rescue. Meanwhile, when police PRO, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, get contacted, he say he never hear about the collapse but promise to find out. But ACTDA later confirm say the building collapse really happen, but dem insist say nobody trap inside and no life lost. Head of Media for ACTDA, Ukpa Ewa, talk say, “Our officers wey dey on ground never see any sign say person trap inside. We dey beg people make dem no spread unconfirmed gist wey fit cause panic. ACTDA go continue to make sure say building standard dey followed for Awka Capital Territory.”