In a harrowing turn of events, three lives were lost following the collapse of a two-storey building under construction at Otta Ona Junction, near the Mobil Filling Station Bus Stop in Ikorodu, Lagos State. The victims, trapped beneath tonnes of concrete and rubble, were confirmed dead on Wednesday after an intense search-and-rescue operation by emergency officials.
Initial reports had indicated that one person was dead, three others trapped, and nine adult males were rescued alive from the ruins of the collapsed structure. However, an official update from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed the worst: all three missing individuals — two adult men and a teenage girl — were recovered lifeless beneath the debris.
The tragic incident unfolded at around 2 p.m. on Tuesday, sparking swift intervention from emergency responders across the state. LASEMA promptly activated its Emergency Response Plans, deploying specialized units from Agbowa, Alausa, and Cappa to the disaster site. Their Lion, Tiger, and Eagle Response Teams — equipped with heavy-duty machinery and medical personnel — raced against time in a desperate effort to rescue those buried beneath the rubble.
In a statement, LASEMA detailed the extent of the tragedy:
“Upon arrival at the scene, it was discovered that a two-storey building under construction had collapsed, with three persons trapped beneath the debris. Despite the tireless efforts of our response teams and the use of excavators and floodlights to aid visibility and recovery, all three victims were recovered dead.”
The identities of the deceased have not yet been released, but their bodies have been transferred to the Igbogbo Police Station for further investigation. Meanwhile, the nine adult males who were rescued alive were stabilized on-site by LASEMA’s Pre-Hospital Care Unit.
The agency further disclosed that the cause of the building collapse remains undetermined, fueling public concern over recurring structural failures across Lagos State. Authorities have since begun deconstructing the remaining portions of the compromised structure to “ground zero,” in order to prevent further hazards to life and the surrounding environment.
As investigations continue, this incident adds to the growing tally of building collapses that have plagued Nigeria’s commercial capital — a grim reminder of the urgent need for stricter compliance with construction regulations, quality control, and oversight in the building sector.
Residents of Ikorodu and the larger Lagos community remain in mourning, as the tragic loss of a teenage girl and two men underscores the human cost of structural negligence and regulatory failure.
PIONEER NEWS 