Christopher Oji
There are fears that the fatality figure might have risen following the collapse of a three-story building on Lagos Island this morning.
Anxiety is still mounting over the fate of dozens of nursery school pupils trapped in the rubble building that collapsed at about 10am.
The building which was located on 10 Dagara Street, Ita-faji, also housed a private nursery school; efforts are still ongoing to rescue more victims.
According to a top police source at the scene of the collapse, 50 pupils and eight tenants have so far been rescued.
The police source confirmed that some pupils have died, but was unsure of the casualty figure.
However, a witness said that at least 5 pupils have so far died while many were resuscitated with the aid of oxygen provided by the Lagos State government.
Lagos State police spokesman, DSP Bala Elkana James, told newsmen that rescue efforts were ongoing.
Those at the scene of the rescue operation included the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Operations in Lagos; DCP Ali Mohammed, the Area Commander, ACP Olubode Ojajuni; RRS Commander, ACP Tunji Disu, all divisional police officers on Lagos Island, officials of LASEMA, fire service, civil defense corps, the local government chairman, and representatives of other agencies.
According to a witness, Abdulazeez Elegushi, “a quit notice was given to the owner of the building by the government after it failed integrity test. I don’t know why they refused to obey the government’s order. Look at now over 100 are still trapped inside. This would not have happened if they had adhered to government instruction.”
Another resident said the building was 30 years old and the owner refused to renovate it.