A one-storey warehouse at the Kasuwan Gwari Market in Sabon Gari, Minna, collapsed on Friday, causing multiple injuries and trapping several people, the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) has said.
NSEMA, in a statement signed by its Director General, Abdullahi Baba-Arah, revealed that the building was illegally converted from a residential area to a warehouse, adding that the construction was also below standard.
Baba-Arah further stressed that the building would be demolished due to its unauthorised conversion.
The collapse occurred while two trailer loads of soft drinks were being offloaded into the warehouse, with over 50 people inside.
“The owner has no official approval for a change of purpose, and it was also poorly constructed with substandard materials,” Baba-Arah said. “The warehouse was full to the brim with soft drinks from about 25 trucks, which overpowered the structure and led to its collapse.”
According to the statement, the agency received a distress call at 3:15 PM on Friday, May 17, 2024, regarding the building collapse.
It added that search and rescue operations, involving NSEMA, NEMA, the Niger State Urban Development Board, the State Environment Protection Agency, the Federal Fire Service, the Police, NSCDC, NDLEA, the Red Cross, vigilante groups, and volunteers were immediately launched.
The DG added that as of the time of reporting, no fatalities had been recorded.
“Five people were rescued with varying degrees of injuries, and two others escaped unharmed. An excavator was brought in to help clear the debris, and NEMA deployed life-detection gadgets. After an intensive three-hour search, no additional people were found trapped.
NSEMA assured that the injured are receiving appropriate medical attention. The Niger State Urban Development Board has ordered the complete demolition of the structure to prevent further incidents.
However, PUNCH Newspaper reported that some of the victims were pulled out dead from beneath the rubbles.
“Some were pulled out dead while some seriously injured ones were rushed to the hospital,” the newspaper quoted an eyewitness, Aliyu Umaru, as saying.
“One particular victim was panting for his life as he was being carried to the hospital. I doubt if he will survive.”
