A two-storey building still under construction and housing traders and shop owners collapsed at the Eke Amawbia market in Awka, the Anambra State capital, on Thursday.

Although the casualty figure has not been officially ascertained, it was gathered that lives might have been lost in the incident and many are feared trapped under the rubble.

Eyewitnesses said the incident happened at about noon, creating panic among some of the traders and residents in the area.

The eyewitnesses said the two-storey building suddenly crumbled, burying numerous traders beneath the debris.

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As of the time of filing this report, one person had been rescued and rushed to Amawbia Maternity Home for urgent medical attention, but many more are believed to be trapped inside the wreckage.

Some police officers have arrived at the scene to coordinate rescue efforts and maintain order.

Traders who witnessed the collapse blamed the disaster on substandard engineering work, alleging that the building’s structural integrity had been compromised.

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While some others blamed the collapse on the persistent rainfall since last week.

The spokesman for the state police command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the development when contacted, saying two victims have been rescued and rescue operations are still ongoing.

Meanwhile, rescue operations are currently ongoing, with emergency responders working to search for survivors amidst the rubble.

According to The PUNCH the atmosphere at the market is tense, with onlookers anxiously waiting for news of the rescue of the people feared trapped in the building.

The incident has sent panic to the community, with many calling for an investigation into the cause of the collapse.

A teacher, Mrs Faith Nwoye, who flogged nine year old pupil to death, has been sentenced to 21 years imprisonment by the Court.

The teacher was sentenced to 21 years imprisonment by a special court handling Women and Children related matters in Awka.

The incident happened in Landmark International School Mgbakwu, Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

READ ALSO: Deadly Flog: Teacher Beats 8-year-old Anambra Pupil To Coma, Dies

The deceased, Master Henry Okonkwo, has been buried in his home town, Igbakwu in Ayamelum Local Government Area of the State.

The pupil died in the Intensive Care Unit of a hospital in Awka after being beaten to coma by the teacher.

Commiserating with the Okonkwo’s family, Commissioner for Education, Prof Ngozi Chuma-Udeh expressed condolences of the Education family and State Government for the heavy loss.

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Chuma-Udeh, represented at the burial by the Director of Schools in the Ministry of Education, Mrs Ifeoma Onyeneke regretted that one of the State’s hopeful was gone in a manner that could have been avoided.

According to her, late Henry could not have died if he was enrolled in an approved school with qualified teachers.

She reminded residents Governor Chukwuma Soludo had declared criminal, the operation of illegal schools in the State.

Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Tokunbo Wahab, on Wednesday, vowed that many structures obstructing the free flow of rain water will be removed.

He said those structures would be removed “irrespective of who or highly placed the owners are.”

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Wahab spoke in the wake of the ravaging flood which submerged many houses, communities and properties in Lagos.
Some of the affected areas include Epe, Eredo, Bogije, Labora, Abijon, Sangotedo, Awoyaya and Ibeju-Lekki.

READ ALSO: PHOTOS: Flood Takes Over LASU/Iba-Ojo road In Lagos

A primary six pupil simply identified as Joshua was swept away by flood in Ikosi, Ketu area of Lagos State.

Daily Trust reports that some miscreants also took advantage of the crisis as they charged passers-by N100 to access a makeshift bridge at the Tradefair under-bridge in Lagos.

The commissioner, however, unleashed his anger on a post on X (formerly twitter) asking him to explain if “the Igbo-owned property and business demolition we witnessed in Lagos 2023, was all politically engineered?”

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@PureStanley1 posted that “Can we all now agree that the Igbo owned property and business demolition we witnessed in Lagos 2023, was all politically engineered? and we were told that some of the buildings were built on canals, thereby blocking the flow of water and causing flooding in Lagos. @tokunbo_wahab can u explain to us why there was a flood in Lagos again yesterday and the early hours of today, after going on demolition spree on IGBOS owned properties?

“Take the Microphone sir, we await ur response!.”

But Wahab fired back and accused the X user of pushing ethnic narrative.

“Many more structures obstructing the free flow of rain water in Lagos will still be removed irrespective of who or highly placed the owners are. Prepare your mind to make your usual aimless and empty noise. If turning it to ethnic narrative makes you happy, go ahead! TW,” he posted.