Voice Air Media, News Update
There was panic in the Sabo area of Osogbo, Osun State capital, on Sunday when a building suddenly cave-in.
A resident of the area, who is also a member of Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Service, identified simply as Alaran, during an interview with PUNCH, said a loud sound was heard in the neighbourhood as the building suddenly went down.
According to Alaran, some people were in the building when it suddenly collapsed, said policemen and operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps promptly responded to a distress call from the scene of the incident.
He said, “The incident happened between 7:30 and 8:am this morning (Sunday). A loud sound was heard. The house is not being inhabited by anyone. But some people usually hide there to smoke or gamble. Some people were trapped.”
According to report, five people were trapped inside when the building collapsed around 7:30 am.
The spokesperson of the Nigerian Security Civil Defense Corps(NSCDC), Osun State Command, Kehinde Adeleke confirmed the collapse.
According to her, “Subsequent to our earlier report dated 10 June 2024 in which we reported on an uncompleted building used as residence by hoodlums by AUD primary school, Sabo Elegun.
“The building we reported was an eyesore and we recommended raiding by task force and the environmental body to the building is sanitised. The said building collapsed at about 07:30 hrs today Sunday 14th July 2024 entrapping 5 people.
“Two people have been rescued so far while the remaining three are entrapped under the decking that requires the use of a Crain.
“While we await the crain, people are doing all they can within the physical human capacity to break the decking and connected rods. The LGA chairman and his team were around and they have gone to see how the Crain can be brought down. On ground are the SSG who just arrived, NSCDC, Police commissioner of police and the team, OSEMA, and other government dignitaries.”
Osun Govt React
Meanwhile, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has warned developers and residents against the construction of houses without approved building plans.
This is as Governor Adeleke also threatened to bulldoze badly built houses posing a threat to human safety.
Adeleke in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed was reacting to a recent building collapse in the Ayetoro area of Osogbo.
In the statement made available on Sunday in Osogbo, Governor Adeleke emphasised that the importance of securing approvals for building plans is to ensure the standard of construction and avoidance of needless deaths and injuries.
He said a building plan is not an optional step in the building construction process as it stops substandard houses that frequently collapse and pose safety risks to the occupants and the environment.
He said, “I am using this medium to direct the Ministry of Lands to step up enforcement of approved building plans by developers and residents. Our officials must go to the estates and development areas to ensure houses are constructed according to approved plans.
“We need to save lives by ensuring that houses are built according to standard. We must also be proactive by testing the strength of houses before a human tragedy occurs. Substandard houses once identified should be pulled down before fatal collapse.
“We will sanction those who refuse to comply with the condition of approved building plans. I further direct relevant agencies to pull down substandard houses before they wreak havoc. We must not wait for lives to be lost before we act.”