The Federal Capital Territory(FCT) Police Command has verified that five persons have been saved from the debris of a collapsed building at Vidaz Estate, located within the Sabon Lugbe Extension of Abuja, Nigeria.
News Central reported that numerous people were trapped beneath the rubble of the collapsed multi-storey structure in Sabon Lugbe, a suburban area in Abuja.
Reports indicated that the collapse took place around 5 pm on Saturday while the victims were still inside the building.
In a statement issued by SP Josephine Adeh, the Police Public Relations Officer for the FCT Police Command, on Sunday, the police confirmed that there were no recorded fatalities.
The police also mentioned that initial investigations showed that the FCT authorities had previously demolished the building because it was situated in an unlawfully acquired area.
Adeh further explained that scavengers were at the site of the collapsed building to collect scrap metal, which compromised the structure and caused its secondary collapse.
She urged residents to adhere to the boundaries of demolished buildings to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The statement reads, “The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has confirmed the collapse of a building situated in Vidaz Estate, within the Sabon Lugbe extension, FCT. Our preliminary investigations reveal that the building was previously demolished by the FCT authorities due to its location in an illegally acquired area.
“Regrettably, the structure was further compromised by scavengers who had been tampering with the remnants for scrap metal, ultimately leading to its secondary collapse.
“A total of five individuals were successfully rescued from the debris, and there were no reported fatalities. In light of this incident, we urge the public to respect the boundaries of demolished structures and construction sites, ensuring their safety and preventing similar occurrences in the future.”
The FCT Director of Development Control, Muktar Galadima, released a statement on Sunday claiming that reports about the collapsed building were merely “propaganda.”
He explained that the structure is part of a site that has been undergoing demolition since Thursday. Information gathered showed that the site experienced an influx of more than 500 scavengers, which caused the debris from a demolished slab to collapse on them.
“This is to bring to the notice of the Department that the media publication regarding the collapse of a multi-storey building in Lugbe is just propaganda. The subject building is within the site currently under demolition, and the subject structure was an uncompleted building that was demolished on Thursday.
“Information gathered indicates that the site recorded a mass influx of scavengers (over 500 in number) pulling down and carting away the remains of iron rods. Their activities triggered the remains of a
demolished slab to fall on them,” he stated.