Seven scavengers die in building collapse, many injured
A building said to have earlier been marked for demolition in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has collapsed on Saturday evening killing about seven and many others sustained injuries, a development which left a harrowing scene as residents scrambled to rescue those trapped beneath the rubble.
Penpushing reports that, the Federal Capital Territory Emergency Department (FEMD) spokesperson, confirmed the incident on Sunday, while many of the occupants were said to be scavengers in the area, known as ‘Mai bola.’
The witnesses who spoke on the collapse said the official occupants vacated it and left it unoccupied knowing that the building would the demolished because it has no approval, adding that when the incident occurred emergency responders from the Federal Capital Territory Emergency Department (FEMD) did not arrive the venue until Sunday morning
Penpushing further reports that one of the Mai bola identified as Shehu Mohammed said that the bulldozers that did the demolition cut through the building’s foundation, adding that the demolition was only partially done, and the carcass was then occupied by poor scavengers in the area, known as ‘Mai bola.
The Mai bola explained that about 13 people were inside the building when bulldozers touched the building from the bottom triggering the collapse, lamenting that three of his brothers died and ten others were injured, adding that residents were unaware of any demolition plans.
Penpushing also reports that Federal Capital Territory Emergency Department (FEMD) spokesperson, denied that the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), the agency responsible for urban planning and development in Abuja, had commenced the demolition of the building with bulldozers.
The spokesperson emphasized and explained that unauthorised scavenging, not the official demolition, likely led to the collapse, stressing that contrary to reports that Development Control was actively demolishing this building, they had not touched it
Penpushing reports that she suggested that scavengers who were trying to steal iron from the building’s foundation caused the collapse, adding that they were using mallets to strike pillars in an attempt to extract the metal.
‘They were using mallets to strike pillars, attempting to extract the metal. That pillar, which was holding the building up, simply gave way. Those scenes you saw—it’s scavengers stripping the building. Their actions may have been what compromised its integrity’, she stated.
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