A worker trapped beneath the rubble of a storey building undergoing manual demolition at Adedoyin Street, Ijegun, Ikotun, Lagos, has been recovered dead, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has said.
Gatekeepers News reports that the recovery brought the rescue operation to an end following the building collapse, which was reported at about 1:44 p.m. on Monday.
Another worker, who sustained an injury to his hand, was taken to hospital for treatment before emergency responders arrived at the scene.
In an update on the incident, LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, said the agency’s response team, working with personnel from its Cappa and Igando bases, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), successfully extricated the trapped worker.
He said the victim was recovered dead, adding that the body was placed in a body bag and handed over to the Nigeria Police Force at the Ikotun Division in the presence of the Divisional Police Officer.
The body was subsequently released to the deceased’s family in line with established procedures.
Oke-Osanyintolu said the site had been cordoned off to prevent further hazards and allow the relevant authorities to assess the scene.
The Lagos State Government expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and wished the injured worker a speedy recovery.
It also pledged to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collapse and determine whether the relevant building control regulations were observed.
The government urged developers, property owners and contractors to comply with building regulations and engage qualified professionals for demolition and construction projects to prevent similar incidents.
LASEMA Clears Three Traffic Incidents Across Lagos
Meanwhile, LASEMA said its response teams had concluded operations at three separate traffic-related incidents across Lagos State.
At Iyana-Oworo, inward Third Mainland Bridge, the agency’s Tiger Team from its C3 Base responded to an accident involving a Lexus Jeep with registration number BDG 404 KA, which reportedly somersaulted after the driver lost control.
The vehicle sustained extensive damage, while an adult male occupant suffered injuries and was taken to hospital before emergency responders arrived. No death was recorded.
The response team secured the scene, managed traffic and arranged for a private tow truck to move the vehicle to a lay-by, restoring normal traffic flow.
In a separate incident, an empty gas tanker with registration number T30015LA reportedly suffered brake failure while ascending the hilly Paramount Road near Okeabata Junction, along Ayetoro Road in Epe.
The tanker veered into the road median, obstructing about 97 per cent of the roadway. No casualties were recorded.
LASEMA’s Whales Team from the Epe Base, working alongside personnel of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service from Okeoso Station, secured the scene and arranged for a private recovery vehicle to remove the tanker.
At Arena, Oshodi, a truck broke down on a railway track following a mechanical fault involving its propeller, obstructing train movement.
The agency’s Beta Eagle Team from the Cappa Base, alongside personnel of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and soldiers, diverted traffic while awaiting the arrival of LASEMA’s heavy-duty recovery equipment, known as Super Metro.
The equipment was subsequently deployed to remove the truck from the railway track to a safe lay-by, allowing rail and road movement to resume.
The state government commended LASEMA and its partner agencies for their response to the incidents and reiterated the importance of regular vehicle maintenance and responsible driving.
Residents were also urged to report emergencies promptly through the state’s toll-free emergency lines, 767 and 112.
