By Uju Mbanusi
Incidence of building collapse in Nigeria,
particularly in Lagos State, has assumed an alarming dimension
following its frequent occurrence.
The recent one occurred
Wednesday night in Tinubu area of Lagos, after a three-storey building
on No 15, Alli Street, landed on a bungalow close to it, killing
three persons: an 82 year-old man, a four-year-old child and a
middle-aged businessman with many others injured.
The incident which occurred at about 10.30 pm also rendered several families homeless.
*Survivors receiving treatment at the hospital.
Residents
o f the buildings, particularly those of the bungalow located at number
16, were shocked over the disaster and wondered why they were victims.
The
bungalow had 10 rooms (popularly known as ‘face me I face you’
apartments) while the three storey building comprised three bedroom
flats on the second and third floors and shops on the first and ground
floors.
When Crime Guard visited the scene Thursday, some of
those who managed to escape were seen thanking God for sparing their
lives . Some were also sighted trying to salvage the remains of their
property from the rubble,while relatives of those who lost their lives
and the injured were seen wailing.
Capital 1 football match saved us— Survivors
Some
of the survivors who spoke to Crime Guard said they would have been
among those who lost their lives had they not gone out to watch
Capital 1 cup football matches.
According to one of them who
identified himself as Chikwe, “ I was on my way back from a viewing
centre where I had gone to watch the football matches when I heard a
loud bang. At first, I thought it was a bomb and immediately took to my
heels. Next thing I heard was series of cracks with people running from
one direction to another.
At first, none was sure of where the
loud bang was from, until we heard the shout of a woman informing us
that a building had collapsed. By then, I had reached the end of the
street. I never knew our building was affected until I came close, only
to find some of my neighbours who also ran for safety. I couldn’t
believe my eyesat the sight of the remains of what used to be home for
me.
I lost everything I have laboured for, but I am grateful to God that I am alive because only the living can save for tomorrow”
How we dragged out an old man from the rubble- resident
Another
resident of the area,Imoh, gave a graphic description of how they
rescued one of the dead persons from the rubble. He also said he
stopped at a friend’s place to watch the football match.
“ When
it was about 10.30pm, I left my friend’s house to avoid being queried
by my wife for coming late. Immediately I got to my street, I saw the
whole place was in disarray. No one made any attempt to get close to
the scene because they were afraid if another building will collapse.
Just
then, we had a faint cry of help from the rubble. I had to summon
courage and invited some young men to go and save the person. But we
could not locate the exact area because the whole place was dark. We
had to use our phones and touch lights, in the process of which I even
lost my phone. Just then, we saw a hand. We tried lifting the brick on
the person but could not because it was too heavy. Other people came
and joined us before we managed to lift it. But by then, it was too
late because the man had died. I believe he was sleeping because he
laid on part of the mattress. We later discovered he was an old man
who only moved in three months ago.”
We worked until the wee
hours and managed to rescue about five persons alive, who were
subsequently rushed to the Island General Hospital”.
Survivors recount experience on hospital beds
Crime
Guard also paid a visit to Emergency Unit of the Lagos Island General
Hospital where some of the injured were receiving treatment. A middle
aged woman identified as Ramota Oduwole, a trader at the Lagos Island
Market, who was brought in a state of coma reportedly demanded for her
husband and children immediately she regained consciousness. Despite
assurances from nurses that members of her family were in good health,
she reportedly insisted on seeing them, until her husband who was
also being attended to at the emergency unit showed up. Their
eight-year-old daughter was also undergoing treatment.
Narrating
how she found herself in the hospital , she said: “ I was in the
apartment with my husband and children, when we heard a deafening
sound. Before we knew what was happening, it was followed by a loud
bang, and that was all I could remember. I woke up to find myself, my
husband and our eight year-old daughter here”.
She paused for a
while , looked to her left and right before continuing, “ A friend of
mine sent a huge amount of money to me from abroad, to help her
purchase some merchandise from the market that Wednesday. But I could
not deposit it in the bank because the banks had closed. I decided to
keep it at home with the intention of taking it to the bank today(
Thursday).
At the moment, we are yet to find the money. It must
have been stolen by hoodlums who came to loot in the name of helping
out. Apart from the clothes we have on, we lost everything in the
collapsed building, but I thank God for sparing our lives. I only
sustained injuries on my legs and lower back. Right now, we would
appreciate any kind gestures from the Lagos State Government towards
helping us settle back to normal life”, she stated.
Another
survivor who had a swollen face and blood-shot eyes, merely stared at
this reporter, unable to identify himself when asked to, let alone to
narrate his ordeal.
The Medical Director of the Lagos Island
General Hospital, Dr. A.O Balogun,who spoke with Crime Guard concerning
the condition of the patients, said some of those rushed in had been
treated and discharged, while others whose condition were critical
,were admitted and still being attended to.
“There is a male
victim with ‘uterium peritonium’ case. He is currently under
observation to ascertain if he needs to be operated on… the rest of
them are in stable condition. I was at the ward attending to them
until few hours ago, when I had to rush down to my office for an
important meeting”. he said.
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