Ogun govt to investigate Abeokuta building collapse

The Ogun Government said on Monday that it would investigate the incident of a collapsed building at Olomore area of Abeokuta on Saturday.

Mrs Yetunde Dina, the Permanent Secretary, Ogun Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning, disclosed this when she visited the scene of the incident.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a tenant, Mrs Modupe Bankole, 51, lost her life when the concrete railings of the one-storey building gave way on Saturday and collapsed on her.

Dina, however, stated that the ministry would deploy engineers to examine the partially collapsed building and ascertain whether the structure was still in good condition or not.

She hinted that the remaining structure might be pulled down if found defective.

A NAN correspondent, who visited the scene on Monday, reports that tenants were seen packing their belongings out of the building.

The husband of the victim, Mr Samuel Bankole, told NAN that his late wife and their three children had been living in the building for the past 12 years.

He said owner of the building died about two and half years ago and the house was being managed by a caretaker.

Bankole, who claimed to be a teacher at the Army Children School, Lafenwa, Abeokuta, said that he was preparing his lesson notes when the incident happened.

“My wife told me in the house that she was going to prepare food.

“After finishing the food, she came to me and took a small mat and a pillow and spread it out to take fresh air.

“She spread it even far away from the collapsed decking.

“I was preparing my own lesson note that time; I told her that when I finished writing, I will join her there.

“When I finished, I came out while some children were moving up and down there until suddenly a neighbour called them and sent them on errand.

“My last born came back from his place of apprenticeship and even slept beside the mother,’’ he said.

He later left to see a friend and shortly after, I just heard the sound of the collapsed decking over my head.

“I believed that since my wife was not directly under that thing, she was safe and I just ran outside and started shouting thank you Jesus without knowing that she was gone,’’ he said.

Bankole expressed belief that his wife was hit by broken blocks from the structure.

He said that his wife died at the hospital before any medical treatment could reach her.