Abuja Building Collapse: 40 Trapped, 7 Rescued, 2 Dead

By: Wisdom Acka & Damilola Adeleke

A sprawling two-story commercial building under construction collapsed Thursday afternoon in Gwarinpa II District, Abuja, killing two, trapping over forty and injuring seven persons.

Director, Department of Development Control, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Muktar Galadima, while confirming this at the scene of the unfortunate incident, said that rescue operation was ongoing with combined team of different agencies.

Galadima further revealed that the seven persons rescued have already been taken to the hospital.

He said that while no casualty had been confirmed, several workers were still trapped on the rumbles of the ill-fated complex. 

Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Umar Shuaibu, said that while the Council won’t aportion blame to anybody, investigation would commence immediately to ascertain the remote and immediate causes of the collapse. 

According to an eye witness, John Edwin, workers on the site, particularly labourers conveying blocks to the top, were over forty.

The eye witness claimed to have lived in the area for many years and he has always known the place to be a reserved green area.

He urged relevant authorities to call the management of Federal Housing Authority to question,  for illegally allocating Green areas to commercial complex.