One killed, two rescued in Lagos building collapse

One person was killed while two others were rescued after a two-storey building undergoing manual demolition collapsed in the Aboru area of Lagos State.

The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, disclosed in a statement on Thursday that the incident occurred at about 12:56am on Thursday at No. 42, Governors Road, Aboru, in the Alimosho Local Government Area of the state.

Oke-Osanyintolu stated that the Alpha Eagle Response Team of the agency was immediately dispatched to the scene after receiving a distress call.

According to the PS, preliminary findings showed that the building collapsed while it was being manually demolished.

He added, “On arrival, first responders confirmed that the structure had collapsed during demolition activities, with workers trapped under the debris.”

He noted that the agency activated the state’s Emergency Response Plan and took charge of the rescue operation, coordinating other emergency responders at the scene.

The LASEMA boss said two adult males were rescued alive from the rubble and given first aid by personnel of the Lagos State Ambulance Service before they were taken to a nearby health facility.

He, however, said one adult male was recovered dead from beneath the collapsed structure.

“Through a coordinated search and rescue operation, two adult males were extricated alive from the rubble and were promptly administered life-saving first aid by personnel of the Lagos State Ambulance Service, LASAMBUS, before being moved to a nearby health facility for further medical attention.

“Sadly, one adult male was recovered dead from beneath the collapsed structure. The agency commiserates with the family of the deceased and prays for the quick recovery of the injured,” Oke-Osanyintolu noted.

Oke-Osanyintolu said the rescue operation was being carried out jointly by LASEMA, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and LASAMBUS.

He added that the area had been cordoned off to protect residents and allow rescue workers to operate safely.

The Permanent Secretary urged residents and developers to comply with building regulations and engage only certified professionals for demolition and construction work.

He said, “Any suspicious or unsafe building activity should be reported immediately to the Agency through the 767 and 112 toll-free emergency numbers.”

He said the Lagos State Government remained committed to improving emergency response across the state, including the decentralisation of response units to achieve a 10-minute response time.

PUNCH Metro reported on June 25 that no fewer than eight people died while 26 others were rescued after a three-storey building collapsed in the Alakija area of Lagos State.

Oke-Osanyintolu had stated that the building, located on Old Ojo Road by Alakija Bus Stop, off the Lagos-Badagry Expressway in Satellite Town, collapsed at about 11:37am, prompting a large-scale emergency response involving multiple agencies.