From Fred Itua, Abuja

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Muhammad Bello, has ordered the arrest of officials of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) and the developer of the two-storey building which collapsed in Abuja during the week.

Briefing newsmen in Abuja on Saturday, the Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Umar Shuaibu, said the minister ordered the arrest of the FHA officials saddled with the responsibility of monitoring the development, granting the development permit, the developer, and the engineer supervising the development, for manslaughter.

Shuaibu explained that the uncompleted building that collapsed two days ago on 6th Avenue in Gwarimpa Estate, trapped 24 persons, and killed three, while 21 persons were rescued.

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The coordinator said the FCT Administration would conduct a thorough investigation to unravel the causes of the incidence, and take appropriate step towards preventing future occurrence.

He said: “The Minister of FCT, Malam Muhammad Bello, has directed the security agencies to arrest the FHA officer in charge of granting the building development permit, the FHA officer saddled with monitoring the development, developer and the engineer supervising the development for the developer.

“All the surrounding developments identified by the AMMC and development control around the neighbourhood that require investigation of their structural integrity, were henceforth sealed and declared out of bounds by anybody, pending the outcome of integrity test presently being conducted.”