Seven people were rescued following the collapse of a three-storey building under construction at Aboga, along the Igwuruta-Etche Road in Ikwerre Local Government Area, Rivers State, on Saturday.
The incident, which occurred around 1:30 p.m., saw nine workers on-site when the structure caved in. Although no lives were lost, seven workers were rescued with varying degrees of injury, while two others managed to jump from the building as it collapsed.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud noise before seeing the building collapse. One witness described how some workers were able to escape, while others were trapped. Local residents and passersby quickly began using axes to break through the debris to rescue the victims until official rescue teams arrived.
The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Emeka Kalu, confirmed the incident and commended the swift response from the Ikwerre Local Government Area, as well as officials from the Rivers State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development and the Ministry of Special Duties. Excavators, a fire truck, and an ambulance were promptly deployed to assist in the rescue operation.
State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Evans Bipi, expressed concern over the collapse, marking it as the fourth such incident since he assumed office. Preliminary investigations suggest the collapse was caused by the use of substandard materials, including 12mm rods for decking, which violated construction standards. Bipi also revealed that the building was being constructed without an approved government plan.
The government has sealed the site and summoned the property owner for questioning as part of an ongoing investigation. Bipi warned that the state would take a stronger stance on builders who violate safety standards and use inferior materials in construction, stressing that such negligence would no longer be tolerated.
