The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Emergency Management Department (FEMD) reported on Sunday that seven people lost their lives in Saturday’s building collapse at Sabon Lugbe along Airport Road, Abuja.
People’s Pen24 reports that this statement clarifies earlier media reports that suggested up to 40 people were trapped in the rubble.
According to a statement by FEMD’s Head of Public Affairs, Nkechi Isa, the structure, located in Gidash Estate, had been marked for demolition by the Department of Development Control due to its illegal land status.
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Acting Director General of FEMD, Engr. Abdulrahman Mohammed, explained that the incident occurred when scavengers began dismantling the building’s iron pillars to collect scrap metal, ultimately destabilizing the structure.
“This structure was marked for removal by Development Control. However, some individuals took advantage of the weekend to strip iron rods from pillars, which caused the building to collapse,” Mohammed stated.
He added that Mohammed Hussein, Chairman of Miyetti Allah’s FCT chapter, confirmed that five of the deceased were members of the association. Seven others were rescued alive from the debris.
Meanwhile, the FCT Police Command also confirmed the incident, attributing the collapse to the scavengers’ tampering with the remaining structure.
Police spokesperson SP Josephine Adeh stated that five individuals were initially rescued, with no fatalities reported at that time.
The police have since urged the public to steer clear of demolished buildings and construction sites to avoid similar tragedies.
