Authorities have confirmed the death of a two-year-old girl and eight other persons, following the collapse of a two-storey building in the Alakija area of Lagos State, while emergency responders successfully rescued 27 others from the rubble.
The incident occurred at Alakija Bus Stop in Satellite Town, within the Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area, prompting a large-scale rescue operation coordinated by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and other emergency services.
Announcing the conclusion of rescue efforts, LASEMA said all trapped victims had been accounted for after hours of intensive search and recovery operations involving multiple agencies and members of the local community.
In a statement issued by the agency’s Head of Public Affairs, Afolabi Olawale, LASEMA disclosed that the 27 survivors received immediate medical attention at the scene before being transported by the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) to nearby hospitals for further treatment.
According to the agency, nine bodies were recovered from the debris. Four of the victims had already died before emergency responders arrived, while five others, including a two-year-old baby girl, were later recovered during the operation.
“The deceased were respectfully bagged and handed over to the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU) for identification and subsequent release to their families,” the statement said.
LASEMA added that its Director of Operations, Olanrewaju Akinsanya, alongside the Cappa Base Coordinator, Salami, supervised the rescue exercise.
To speed up the operation, the agency deployed a heavy-duty excavator to complement two excavators provided by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), enabling emergency workers to safely access trapped victims and reach ground zero.
Reacting to the tragedy, the Lagos State Government expressed sympathy to the families of those who lost their loved ones and wished those receiving treatment a quick recovery.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu also directed the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) to immediately assess the structural integrity of neighbouring buildings and ensure strict enforcement of building regulations within the affected area.
LASEMA reaffirmed its commitment to prompt emergency response, professionalism and effective collaboration with other agencies.
The agency also urged residents to promptly report distressed or unsafe buildings to both LASEMA and LASBCA to prevent similar disasters.
