Soji Ajibola, Author at Tribune Online

AN 80-year-old native doctor identified as Lamidi Babare is yet to come to terms with the loss of five grandchildren in a collapsed building that claimed the lives of 10 persons on Thursday at Yegede-Foworogun,Ibadan, in Ona-Ara Local Government Area of Oyo State. Over nine others sustained varying degrees of injury during the incident. Babare, who is currently on admission at the MercylanAd Hospital, alongside eight other victims, is said to be a native psychiatric doctor. Some of his patients were among the victims that died during the incident, while others are currently receiving medical attention at various government and private hospitals in the state. The octogenarian had been using the ill-fated one-storey building as both residential and mental care home. It was gathered that patients came from far and near to receive treatment at the place. Babare, according to one of his wives who identified herself as Yidiat,had just finished using the toilet when the building came down around 1am on Thursday. “I am not staying with Baba presently, but I was called by the people in the neighborhood after the incident happened around 1am on Thursday, shortly after the downpour. “Baba was downstairs after leaving the toilet to arrange the chairs at the reception hall when the incident happened. Even though he escaped death by a whisker, this could not be said of his five grandchildren and some of his patients. “Baba stays in the house with his children, grandchildren and his patients. He is a native doctor who specializes in the treatment of patients with mental ailment and other diseases. “We are appealing to the governor to come to the aid of Baba. He has lost everything, including his children, grandchildren and the house that he labored to build over seven decades ago.” The General Manager of the Oyo State Fire Service, Rev Akinremi Akinyinka, while confirming the incident, said, “The Oyo State Fire Service received a distressed call at about 2 am this morning from Jegede Olunloyo area in Ona-Ara Local Government Area, of which 10 persons have been recovered from the debris of the collapsed building, while seven persons have been rescued alive.” The Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development, Mr. Williams Akin-Funmlayo, who was at the scene of the incident for on-the spot assessment, expressed shock and commiserated with the victims. His words, ‘We heard of the unfortunate incident of the building collapse. We are here on inspection to confirm what has actually happened as well commiserate with the people in the community and the families of the victims. “From what I can see, the building is already distressed. It is obvious and visible. The building is tired, hence nobody is supposed to occupy it; and to forestall recurrence of this ugly incident, His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde, approved recently what I would call building amnesty, whereby buildings in the state are expected to have building approval. “I can tell you without any search that this building affected doesn’t have any building approval; and even from what I am seeing in this community, there are so many buildings here that are distressed, and I believe they don’t have any building approval. “With this, for us to be proactive and to prevent recurrence of this, very soon, we will work out a plan to carry out integrity test on buildings within the city and suburbs of the state.” Also, the chairman, Ona-Ara Local Government, Dr. Temitope Kolapo Glorious, said, “Around 1am, the incident happened, but I was called around 2am. Read Also: JOHESU suspends warning strike “I mobilised all the agencies that are involved in the rescue mission. All of them responded timaely and swiftly. Their efforts yielded in rescuing of nine survivors. “We have moved them(victims) to the hospital. Four of them are in a private hospital very close to this place, while four have been moved to the General Hospital, Ring Road, because of their own condition. “I have not confirmed the number of deaths, but I personally, I saw three dead bodies on the floor. Their families have come to claim their bodies. “It was this morning that we learnt that this building was being used as mental care home by the owner who is about 80 years old. Some of the patients, especially the mentally challenged ones, are among the survivors. “The building was serving dual purposes as residential and mental care home. The wives, children and grandchildren of the octogenarian were residing in the building. “Inasmuch we are not talking about the integrity of the collapsed building. We are commiserating with the entire community and the bereaved families as well praying to God to give them fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.” The Commissioner of Police, Oyo State command, Ayodele Sonubi, during a visit to the scene of the incident disclosed that adequate security had been emplaced in the area to prevent hoodlums from taking over the incident scene and as well to protect lives and property of other residents within the jurisdiction.