The incident occurred at approximately 3:58 am on Thursday, July 25, 2024, as reported by an eyewitness.
Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), confirmed the incident, saying it took place at No 13, Wilson Mba St., Arowojobe Estate.
The victims, identified as site workers, were discovered amidst the rubble of three terraces under construction.
“In response to a distress call received at 3:49 am, LASEMA immediately mobilized its response team, arriving at the scene by 3:58 am,” Oke-Osanyintolu stated. “Search and rescue efforts commenced promptly, resulting in the recovery of three deceased adult males and the rescue of two others. One additional worker, initially trapped, has since been freed.”
He further detailed the collaborative efforts involving LASEMA, the Lagos State Fire Service, and the Nigeria Police in conducting rescue operations. An excavator was deployed to facilitate swift recovery operations.
The incident comes on the heels of another building mishap in Yaba, Lagos, where a bungalow undergoing manual demolition partially collapsed, resulting in injuries to a worker. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported in that incident.
Oke-Osanyintolu emphasized the immediate cordoning off of the demolition site in Yaba to prevent further accidents, underscoring LASEMA’s proactive measures in emergency response.