Seven dead as FCTA clarifies reports of collapsed building, says structure was under demolition

The FCT Emergency Management Department, yesterday, said it recovered seven dead bodies of iron scavengers who invaded the site of a demolished building in Sabon Lugbe, a suburb of Abuja.

Its Director Abdulrahman Mohammed, who disclosed this to journalist at the site of the incident, also revealed that two other victims were receiving medical attention at the Federal Medical Centre.

The authority noted that activities of over 500 iron scavengers, who invaded the demolished building, pulling down and carting away iron rods, triggered the remains of the demolished slab to fall on them. He said rescue operations had been completed at the site.
Initial reports suggested that over 40 people were trapped when a building collapsed in an estate in Sabon Lugbe, Abuja Municipal Area Council, around 5:00 p.m. on Saturday while some individuals were still inside.

But Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) dismissed reports of a collapsed multi-storey building in Abuja, where over 40 people were alleged to have been trapped.

It clarified that the building, located in the Sabon Lugbe area, was in the process of being demolished and attracted over 500 scavengers to the site.

The FCT Police Command confirmed that five people had been rescued from the debris. According to the command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, “The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has confirmed the collapse of a building in Vidaz Estate, within the Sabon Lugbe extension, FCT.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the building had been previously demolished by FCT authorities due to its location on illegally acquired land. Unfortunately, scavengers tampering with the remains for scrap metal compromised the structure, leading to a secondary collapse.

“Five individuals have been rescued, with no reported fatalities. We urge the public to respect the boundaries of demolished structures and construction sites to ensure safety and prevent similar incidents.”

The Commissioner of Police, CP Tunji Disu, has deployed officers to maintain order and assist with ongoing rescue efforts.

In a statement yesterday, the Director of the FCTA’s Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, clarified that the building had already been demolished when the incident occurred.

He explained that scavengers, commonly known as “Baban Bola,” had flocked to the site to collect iron rods, which led to the partial collapse of the remaining structure.

Galadima said: “This is to inform the public that media reports about the collapse of a multi-storey building in Lugbe are inaccurate. The building in question was under demolition, and the structure, which was an uncompleted building, was demolished on Thursday.

“Information gathered indicates that a large number of scavengers, over 500, were dismantling and taking away iron rods, which caused the remaining slab to collapse on them.”