No one died in collapsed Itoku Market complex, says Ogun government
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NIGERIA: OGUN State government has dispelled rumour that many workers lost their lives in the early morning Friday collapse of the shopping complex in Itoku Market, Abeokuta, the state capital.
But a yet to be confirmed report alleged that one person died under the rubbles following the early morning collapse.
The government said that all the 16 workers have been saved and none was trapped in the debris after the combined team of the Fire Services, Ogun State Emergency Management Agency, Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, medical officials and environmental marshals carried out the rescue operations.
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Dayo Adeneye, said Friday afternoon that from the records
available five of the site workers sustained various degree of injuries and were presently receiving treatment at State Hospital, Ijaiye, Abeokuta, while eight others were rescued unhurt.
“At the moment, records from the site engineers indicate that there were 16 workers on site at the time of the unfortunate incident and they have all been accounted for,” Adeneye said.
He added: “Eight of them were rescued un-hurt, five who sustained different degrees of injuries are presently receiving treatment at the state hospital Ijaiye, Abeokuta, one is critically injured, while two have been discharged.”
The Commissioner further explained that efforts to clear the rubbles at the collapsed building site were ongoing.
Adeneye also stated that government had requested the combined rescue team to be more diligent with their operations as some non-site workers may be trapped in the rubbles.”
Earlier, eyewitness told GatewayMail that the complex being built by three contractors –Validdus Construction Services, James Town Development and Hakmode Ventures – collapsed at the time workers just resumed for early morning commencement of work.
Two hours after the crash, many workers were believed to still be trapped while the entire Itoku area was jam-packed with sympathizers and family members who came to search for their loved ones working on site.
Amosun, who was shocked and jittery on arrival, was seen frantically directing the rescue operations and indeed went inside the wreckage calling on the trapped workers to know the spot where they were for the rescue team to identify and evacuate them.
The combined team of men of the Fire Services, Ogun State Emergency Management Agency, Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, medical officials and environmental marshals were among other agencies that carried out the rescue operations.
Amosun, who said he had requested for crane to evacuate the debris, however, pleaded with the people to be patient as frantic efforts were being made by the team to save the lives of the trapped workers.
