Three Feared Dead As Two-Storey Building Collapses In Rivers

At least three persons are feared dead after a two-storey building under construction collapsed along Isi Ewu road, Nbodo Community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The incident, it was gathered, happened on Saturday evening, and the dead victims were labourers working at the site of the two-storey building.

Other persons sustained injuries and were rushed to the hospital.

The Public Relations Officer of the NSCDC, Rivers State Command, Olufemi Ayodele, confirmed the incident to the Press Sunday morning.

Ayodele in a statement, quoting the state Commandant of the NSCDC, Michael Ogar who visited the scene, said the cause of the incident was due to the used of substandard materials.

Ogar, who was represented by the Head of the Rivers NSCDC Disaster Management Rescue Team, Assistant Commandant, James Ngene, disclosed that preliminary investigation revealed that the rods, pillars and blocks used in construction of the two-storey building were far below the required specifications.

The statement reads, “It is high time Nigerians began to take responsibility for their actions most especially when life of humans are involved.

“The collapse of the two-storey building at Aluu in Ikwerre Local Government Area could have actually been avoided if standardised materials and right specifications were used.

“Owners of buildings and landlords are hereby advised to be wary of desperate and quack building contractors who cares only about their pockets and not the lives of innocent people.

“The Rivers State Commandant lauded the Chairman Ikwerre Local Government Area, Hon. Samuel Nwanosike for mobilising three pay loaders and providing the necessary logistics.

“That effort enhanced the rescuing of the victims and recovery of three corpses during a joint rescue operations by NSCDC, National Emergency Management Agency, other security agencies and well-meaning people who worked tirelessly to savage the situation.”

Ogar hailed all others who collaborated with NSCDC operatives in the search and rescue operations, saying “the collapsed building environment has now been cordoned and sealed to prevent further disaster.”