Ogun building collapse: Victims responding to treatment

The five persons who suffered degrees of injury when an ultra modern market complex collapsed in Itoku area of Abeokuta, on Friday, were responding to treatment as at yesterday.

They were found to be in stable condition at the Ijaye, Abeokuta General Hospital, when the state commissioner of Health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye took journalists to the hospital to verify the state of their conditions.

The complex, which was under construction, caved in at 9a.m, with one dead on the way to the hospital, and the injured seven taken to the hospital. Two of whom were discharged few hours later.

The commissioner told journalists that contrary to government’s earlier confirmation that two persons lost their lives, it has now been confirmed that only one person died in the incident.

He disclosed that one of the patients, Adisa Afusa, female, 30, who was severely hit was operated upon “and is now responding to treatment”.
Ipaye emphasised that the surgery was a huge success, saying Afusa had ruptured bladder and multiple fractures in the hips and at her upper right hand, but was optimistic that she would get better soon.

Other patients, including, Afusa who spoke to journalists were, Adewunmi Tolulope (20), male, Oluwaseun Afolabi (23), male, Kehinde Akeem (38), female, Oluwalose Oluga (40), female.

They all confirmed to journalists that they were getting better, compared to the early pains they experienced shortly after the accident.

Recounting his ordeal, Adewunmi, an Industrial Trainee (IT) student who sustained minor injury on the head, said he was at the fifth floor, supervising the workers when the incident happened.

His words, “I was at the fifth floor when the incident happened, I was there to supervise the workers and all of a sudden I heard a loud noise and I just found myself down, that was the last thing I remembered.”

Asked how he was feeling, he said, “I am now doing fine as you can see, I just finished eating, the doctors and nurses have been taking good care of us.”

Adewunmi expressed his appreciation to the Sstate government, saying, “The Ogun State government has really done well to ensure that we are well taken care of.”

The commissioner who was accompanied by his counterpart from Information and Strategy Ministry, Dayo Adeneye and the Medical Director of the Hospital, Dr. Kayode Oladeinde said aside from the two already discharged on Friday, three others would be discharged “before the end of the day, immediately doctors declared them fit”.

The commissioner disclosed that, the government has been responsible for the hospital bill of the patients, adding that the family of the deceased had equally been contacted and the corpse would be released to them as soon as all necessary documentations were done.

As at 3.30p.m yesterday, rescue workers with cranes, heavy trucks and caterpillars were battling to clear the debris.

Meanwhile, Senator Lanre Tejuoso, representing Ogun Central Senatorial District, yesterday sympathized with the victims and families of the accident.