Seven dead, many injured as a result of a building collapse in Abuja

At least seven people have been confirmed dead after a building collapsed in the Nigerian capital, Abuja.

According to the Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management (FEMD), many other residents of the building were injured.

Nkechi Isa, FEMD spokesperson, told PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday that the official death toll from the collapse was seven.

The collapse, which occurred around 5pm on Saturday, left a horrifying picture as residents tried to rescue those trapped under the rubble.

Video Shared on social media on Saturday, frantic scenes of onlookers and residents digging through the wreckage with their hands and homemade tools in the absence of rescue workers were depicted. Their quick, impromptu actions saved the lives of the victims below.

Officials and residents of the area told PREMIUM TIMES that rescuers from FEMD did not arrive at the scene until Sunday morning.

Collapse

On Sunday, witnesses at the scene told how the building collapsed.

This newspaper learned that the building was among those marked for demolition by the Abuja authorities as it was built without a permit.

Knowing that the building would be demolished, the official residents vacated it and left it empty.

Authorities in Abuja recently began demolishing buildings in Sabon Lugbe, including the one that collapsed on Saturday. However, the demolition was only partially done and the carcass was then occupied by poor scavengers in the area known as “Mai bola”.

Shehu Mohammed, one of the Mai bola, said the bulldozers that were demolishing the building cut through the foundation of the building.

Mr Mohammed said about 13 people were inside the building when “the bulldozers hit the building from below”, triggering the collapse.

“Three of our brothers were killed and ten others were injured,” he said, adding that the residents were unaware of any demolition plans.

Another resident, Dahiru Ali, put the death toll higher, saying 15 people were killed.

Meanwhile, Husseini Usman, who helped bury the victims at Sabon Lugbe Muslim burial ground, said he witnessed the burial of three people.

The official blames the scanners

Mrs. Aiza, the FEMD spokesperson, denied that the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), the agency responsible for urban planning and development in Abuja, had started the demolition of the building using bulldozers.

According to her, the collapse was probably caused by unauthorized garbage collection, not official demolition.

“Contrary to reports that Development Control was actively demolishing this building, they did not touch it,” Ms. Issa said in a telephone interview Sunday.

She assumed that the collapse was caused by scavengers trying to steal iron from the foundation of the building.

“They hit the posts with mallets, trying to extract the metal. The pillar that held the building simply gave way,” she said.

She said the building’s owners sold the building to scavengers.

“Those scenes you saw are scavengers dismantling the building. Their actions could jeopardize its integrity,” she said.

The FCT minister has ordered the buildings to be demolished

Before the collapse, Nyesom Wike, the FCT Minister, ordered the immediate demolition of unauthorized structures in Sabon Lugbe South District.

Rabi Umar, Assistant Director of Press, conveyed Mr Wike’s orders in a statement issued on Tuesday.

The minister made an unscheduled visit to this area accompanied by the heads of various law enforcement agencies.

“These are thieves operating without legal documentation and we will not allow that,” Mr Wike said. He instructed the Building Control Department to work with security agencies to forcibly remove illegal structures.

READ ALSO: Many people were trapped after a building collapsed in Abuja

He said that any building without official permission from the FCT administration would be demolished, describing the developments as a violation of Abuja land use laws.

The minister also warned that the security forces will arrest anyone who obstructs the demolition process.