Five Dead, 10 Injured as Building Under Construction Collapses in Abuja
A three-storey building under construction in Durumi 3, near Gudu Market in Abuja, collapsed on Saturday morning, leaving at least five people dead and 10 others injured.
Lere Olayinka, spokesperson to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, confirmed the incident in a statement issued later in the day. He added that one victim was rescued alive after spending more than nine hours trapped beneath the rubble.
The victims are believed to be construction workers who were on site when the building gave way.
According to Olayinka, rescue operations were still ongoing as emergency responders worked to reach more victims feared trapped under the debris at the construction site located around Gaduwa Estate in the Gudu district.
He also said Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, Mandate Secretary of the FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, conveyed Wike’s directive that all injured victims receive free medical treatment.
Earlier, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had reported four fatalities and 12 injuries in an initial statement following the collapse.
The agency said it received a distress alert shortly after the incident and immediately deployed search-and-rescue teams to the scene.
NEMA explained that several emergency agencies joined the operation, including the Federal Fire Service, FCT Fire Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
According to the agency, a response team from its Abuja Operations Office, led by Zakari Abubakar, alongside operatives from the AYA Emergency Response Bay (ERAB), coordinated rescue efforts at the site. A reinforcement team from NEMA headquarters, led by Air Commodore Bature Usman, Director of Search and Response, was also deployed to support the operation.
The injured victims have since been evacuated to Asokoro General Hospital for treatment.