Two die in Abuja walkway collapse

Two people have been reported dead after a walkway under construction collapsed in Maitama area of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The incident, which happened yesterday around 4.00p.m. at Plot 3333, Mississippi Street, AO6 District, Maitama, also left one person critically injured.

An eyewitness, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told The Guardian that construction workers were on site when the walkway caved in and three persons were buried in the rubble.

“They were trying to build a restraining wall and in the process, the walkway collapsed. The approval for the site was given to Simag Construction Company by the Development Control, an arm of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).”

He said the site engineer has been arrested and currently under police custody. It was gathered though that the site has the FCDA’s approval, the plot is said to be one of the plots currently under probe by the Senate.

The FCT Fire Service Acting Comptroller, Mr. Julius Opetunsin, who confirmed the incident, said his men moved to the site immediately the office received the distress call.

“A few minutes after 4.00p.m. yesterday , there was a call from the emergency call centre. So, our officers in charge of Search and Rescue Department of FEMA, immediately mobilised to the scene of the incident,” he said.