Metro

How Lagos Building Collapse Render Over 3,000 Homeless

Published

2 years ago

October 8, 2023

Editor

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Following a building collapse in Onamo Agboye Estate complex in Oduntan Street, Kosofe area of Ketu, Lagos, 3,000 inhabitants of the complex including women and children have been thrown into harsh conditions.

The incident, which led to the demolition of the building by officials of the Lagos State government, has rendered many residents homeless.

Vanguard learnt that the estate had blocks A to M and each block had a three or four-storey building with about 50 rooms each.

A visit to the scene of the building collapse, several tenants were seen hopelessly standing while others tried to park a few of their belongings.

While some tenants were seen selling off their household items like refridgerators and fans, the properties of other tenants were littered all over the streets.

Speaking to Vanguard, a 52-year-old teacher, Nwakunor Caesar, who occupied a two-room self-contained apartment in one of the buildings, said: “I live here with my wife and children. On Saturday afternoon, I was at the balcony when it was raining. I noticed that some tenants started running because a part of block A had collapsed. The collapse caused tension in the estate and some of the tenants ran to our block for safety.

“When fire service officials came, they discovered that it was not a fire outbreak. They alerted officials of Lagos State Building Control Agency because of the vibration. On Sunday, more blocks collapsed including the apartment of the landlord. It fell on so many people and killed a man who came to help a tenant salvage some of their properties. A whole block collapsed on him, killing him in the process. Other people sustained injuries. Officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency who were at the scene had to stop people from entering the building to pick up their things.

“I noticed that something was wrong with the building immediately I paid and parked into the building six years ago. We have issues with water and nothing seems to be working in the estate. When the house developed issues years ago, the landlord, Chief Agboye, began to take palliative measures despite advise from professionals that the house was sinking.

“The load the building carried was more than the building itself. The foundation is weak too. The population strength is too much. The landlord knew that the place was faulty and he refused to do the needful. Can you see what his inactions have caused us? Unfortunately for me, a few days ago I went to pay my house rent. Now, my family is stranded and homeless. He has rendered over 3,000 people homeless and most of these people have no money.

“Thieves are stealing people’s properties, I have lost my complete set of pots, teaching board and so many other things. If you keep your property and rush back to pick up another; on coming back, you will not see it again. Some will come to help, but in the real sense, they are not coming to help but to steal and sell your belongings.”

Lamenting, Amaka, a mother of four said: “We just packed into this building about two months ago. Yesterday, my children and I slept in a church building. As it is, we are stranded and homeless.

“And many of our properties have been lost. Some people are selling their properties to eat. A neighbour just sold his refridgerator for N10,000. You can’t be squatting in another person’s house with children and household items.”

Calling on government, another tenant, Chinedu, said: “I need help seriously. I have a wife and children. Apart from the children I have, we have a premature baby, and my wife who had stroke is just recovering. It is not quite long she came back from the hospital, and now, this tragedy. Since the incident happened, my family and I have been squatting with relatives.

“Government needs to help provide temporary shelter or give financial support because many of us have nowhere to sleep. Some are even sleeping in churches. Like me, many of the residents are also confused. I am having issues evacuating some of my properties, I don’t know what to do.”

Reacting to the development, the landlord’s lawyer, Efe Kwakpovwe, who spoke to Sunday Vanguard, said: “Not all part of the building is defective. Although you can see some parts are shifting, and a bit bent, some other parts are not defective. They should bring down the defective part of the building and allow chief to restructure it back.

“I went to the Lagos State Building Control Agency to see the general manager, but he was unavailable. A colleague there told me, the process of building collapse entails forfeiture.

“What is happening to the residents who are stranded at the moment is so unfortunate. There is nothing anybody can do about that. It is a pity actually.”

VANGUARD

Metro

Four Die, Three Injured In Delta Crash

Published

4 hours ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

Four persons have lost their lives while three others sustained injuries following a road accident that occurred at the Second Niger bridge in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

According to The PUNCH, the victims were rushed to St. Rebecca’s hospital on Monday.

Eyewitnesses said that the accident involved a truck and two other vehicles along the Second Niger Bridge.

“We saw a truck carrying cement and was at it speed trying to navigate through the bridge but couldn’t control it and it eventually fell.

“The truck crushed two other vehicles and many people died, others sustained serious injuries and were rushed to St Rebecca’s hospital along Nnebisi road,” an eyewitness narrated

Confirming the crash, the Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corp, Delta State Command, Frederick Ogidan, blamed the truck driver for being overly speedy.

Ogidan said, “They were trapped in the vehicle because the vehicle broke down, so our toll truck was there to rescue them.

“Four persons confirmed dead, the vehicle involved is not Dangote but a Bua truck that carried cement.

“It’s unfortunate that a crash will happen on that very good road, it shows that the driver was probably over speedy and lost control.”

Ogidan called on drivers to be more careful, especially during the ‘Ember months’.

He also urged them to obey simple traffic rules.

Metro

Youths Uncover Man Chained By Father For Five Years In Anambra

Published

1 day ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

There was panic in Igboukwu community, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, when members of the community discovered a young man who was chained and locked up for about five years by his father.

According to eyewitnesses near the scene, the man in his mid-20s, identified as Chogbo, popularly called “Agudo,” believed to have travelled to Europe, was found chained and locked up in a hut since 2021 after a search by some youths of the community on Saturday.

One of the eyewitnesses, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said, “We were passing by near the hut yesterday (Saturday), when we started hearing some strange sounds coming out from the direction of the hut.

“A search was conducted, and when we got there, we found our brother with both hands and legs tied in chains.

“On interrogation, he told us that he had been chained and locked up in that place since 2021. We ordered for the keys to open the chains, and when they brought them, the keys could not open anymore because they have become rusted. We had to forcefully break the keys.

“The victim has been rescued and is receiving necessary medical care. The father told us he travelled to Europe, not knowing that our brother was locked up in a hut for five years without taking his bath. This is barbaric.”

A video currently circulating on social media also corroborates the claims. The viral video showed when the victim was discovered in a hut and being interrogated by the angry youths.

Confirming the development in a press statement on Sunday, the Anambra State Police spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the victim has been rescued and is receiving necessary medical attention at the hospital.

Ikenga said the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has commended the youths of the community for the proactive role they played in uncovering the incident, describing their action as a clear example of community partnership in policing.

The statement read in part, “Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has directed Police operatives to immediately investigate a disturbing report circulating in the media regarding a young man identified as Chogbo (popularly known as Agudo) from Igboukwu, who was allegedly kept in chains for five years by his father with claims that he had travelled abroad.

“Preliminary inquiries are ongoing to establish the facts, safeguard the victim’s well-being, and the Command assures that where culpability is established, those responsible will be held accountable in accordance with the law.

“Meanwhile, the victim has been rescued and is receiving necessary care.

“The Command commends the youths of the community for the proactive role they played in uncovering the incident, describing their action as a clear example of community partnership in policing.

“Further development shall be communicated, please.”

Metro

UNIZIK Suspends Doctors, Nurses, Security Personnel Over 100-level Student’s Death

Published

1 day ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

The authorities at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, have suspended doctors, nurses and the security personnel on duty at the university’s medical centre following the death of a 100-level Law student of the institution, Miss Isabella Ajana.

The suspension was communicated to them in a statement signed by the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Carol Arinze-Umobi and made available to journalists on Sunday.

Recall that Isabella, reportedly died on July 8, after being denied urgent access to her insulin medication due to an alleged demand for payment by her hostel manager.

The deceased, who was diabetic and a resident of Elmada Hostel, was said to have suffered a medical crisis after she and her roommates lost their room key, which contained her life-saving insulin.

In a desperate attempt to retrieve her medication, the students approached the hostel mistress, identified as “Madam Bright”, and requested the spare key.

However, according to multiple student accounts, “Madam Bright” allegedly refused to release the key unless the three roommates paid ₦120,000 — ₦40,000 each — in line with a purported hostel policy.

Despite explaining the urgency of Isabella’s health condition and their inability to raise the money immediately, their pleas were reportedly ignored.

Her condition quickly worsened, and she was rushed to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead.

The development triggered a series of reactions, public condemnation and online buzz that compelled the University authorities to constitute a committee to investigate the incident and the circumstances surrounding the student’s death.

The Committee, chaired by Prof. Mike Oddih, was mandated to thoroughly conduct their investigations and submit its report within one week.

However, giving an update on the incident about six weeks after, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Carol Arinze-Umobi, in the statement released on Sunday, announced the immediate suspension of the doctors, nurses, and security personnel on duty at the University’s Medical Centre on the day Isabella died.

Arinze-Umobi said the suspension will last for three months in the first instance, pending the conclusion and the outcome of the ongoing investigations.

The Vice-Chancellor further directed the Management of Elmada Hostel, which is a jointly owned, but privately-managed facility located within the university premises where the Isabella resided, to immediately sack the Supervisor on duty at the time of the incident.

The statement read in part, “Following the submission of the investigation committee’s report into the unfortunate death of Miss Isabella Chioma Ajana, a 100-level student in the Faculty of Law, I have taken decisive action to address the matter.

“Arising from the report of the panel, I hereby suspend the doctors, nurses and the security personnel on duty at the University’s Medical Centre on the day the student was rushed there, for three-months in the first instance, during which all investigations would have been completed.

“The University demands the management of Elmada Hostel which is jointly owned, but privately managed, as a matter of urgency, to sack the Supervisar on duty who was in custody of the spare key and could not return it after repented calls on her.

“UNIZIK will re-evaluate relationship with the Elmada hostel, demanding International best practices in students accommodation facilities.

“I wish to assure the University Community and general public that we are committed to upholding the highest standard of care and safety for our students in line with my vision, ‘feeling the pulse of the students, staff and finding solutions’.

“I extend my deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased and assure them that we will do everything possible to prevent such incidents in the future.”
(PUNCH)