PHOTO: The building, before and after collapse
By Dennis Okechukwu
At least 15 people have been rescued and one person confirmed dead after a three-storey shopping complex collapsed on Thursday morning at Oluti Bus Stop along Old Ojo Road, opposite Eternal Oil Filling Station in the Alakija area of Lagos.
Emergency responders, including officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), the Fire and Rescue Service, police, military personnel, and the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC), were at the scene carrying out rescue operations.
A police officer involved in the operation said about 15 victims, including children and infants, had been pulled from the rubble, while several others were believed to be trapped beneath the collapsed structure.
Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as the building suddenly gave way.
Musa, a motorcyclist who witnessed the incident, said he was travelling toward Mile 2 when he heard a loud noise behind him.
“I quickly rode ahead and turned back. That was when I saw that the mall had collapsed,” he said.
Another witness recounted arriving at the premises moments before the incident.
“I had just arrived at the shop when I heard a loud sound and saw dust and smoke everywhere. I was carrying my child and did not know which direction to run,” the witness said.
Several residents claimed that trapped victims could still be heard beneath the debris.
“Someone is still making noise from inside the rubble,” one eyewitness said, while another pointed to a hand protruding from the wreckage and expressed hope that more survivors would be rescued.
Residents also alleged that concerns had been raised about the structural condition of the building before the collapse.
A local resident said a cybercafé operator who rented space in the mall moved out two years ago after noticing signs that the building was unsafe.
“My boss packed out because the building was showing signs that it could collapse,” the resident said.
Witnesses further stated that the ageing structure had developed visible cracks in recent days, while some alleged that government authorities had previously marked it for evacuation.
A grieving resident said a friend lost his life while attempting to escape.
“He was trying to run out when a block hit him,” the resident said.
Amid the tragedy, onlookers cheered after rescue workers pulled a young boy alive from the rubble.
Relatives of missing occupants remained at the scene anxiously awaiting news as rescue efforts continued.
All rescued victims and casualties were taken to the Navy Town Hospital in Alakija for treatment and further medical attention.