One person has been killed while two others were rescued after a two-storey building undergoing manual demolition partially collapsed in Aboru, Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday at No. 42, Governors Road, Aboru, trapping workers beneath the rubble.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said its Alpha Eagle Response Team from the Cappa-Oshodi Response Unit was deployed to the scene at about 12:56 a.m. following a distress call.
Upon arrival, emergency responders cordoned off the area and commenced search and rescue operations for workers trapped beneath the collapsed structure.
LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said preliminary findings indicated that the building collapsed while manual demolition work was ongoing.
Two adult males were successfully rescued alive from the debris during the coordinated operation. They received emergency first aid from personnel of the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) before being transported to a nearby health facility for further medical attention.
However, another adult male was recovered dead from beneath the rubble.
The rescue operation involved personnel from LASEMA, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and LASAMBUS, with security agencies and community leaders also assisting at the scene.
Dr Oke-Osanyintolu commiserated with the family of the deceased and wished the rescued victims a speedy recovery.
He urged property owners, developers and members of the public to strictly comply with building safety regulations and engage qualified professionals for demolition and construction activities.
The LASEMA boss also advised residents to report unsafe building or demolition activities through the 767 and 112 emergency numbers, stressing the importance of early intervention in preventing further loss of lives.
The incident has again raised concerns over safety compliance during demolition activities in Lagos, particularly where manual methods are employed on existing structures.
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