UPDATE: Rescue efforts ongoing at collapsed building site in Ibadan; police say casualty figure unknown yet

No fewer than 23 persons were trapped in a three-storeyd building under construction which collapsed in Ibadan on Friday, witnesses said.

The incident occurred about 5.30p.m. eye witnesses around said.

David Aderibigbe, a witness who lives close to the building site, said no fewer than 23 workers and two food vendors  were trapped in the building.

He said that only six of the victims had been rescued from the debris by residents of the area.

“Some of the survivors of the incident who have been rescued told us there are no fewer than 23 workers on site and two traders.

“The survivor said one of the traders was trapped with her baby,” Aderibigbe said.

Aderibigbe said some of the victims had been making telephone calls to seek help.

Toheeb Gbadamosi, 19, one of the survivors, said,  “Today is my first time of working at this place.

“I just came around in order to raise some money for my upkeep because things are difficult. I thank God that I came out of the rubble alive.”

Mojeed Agbaje, one of those involved in the rescue efforts, said two of his relatives (Tunde and Oladepo) were trapped in the building.

“I am worried because other people that I know are presently in the wreckage. Tunde sustained injuries on his face and limbs. We have taken him to Molete Hospital and he is recuperating,”

Mr Akin Makinde, the Secretary, Oyo State Emergency Management Agency, said the report of the accident was  shocking.

He said that the agency had always warned builders to adhere  to the building regulations to avoid disasters.

Makinde said that he had contacted an excavator to clear the wreckage to enable the rescue of others still under the rubble.

Meanwhile, fire servicemen, Red Cross and police personnel have deployed to the scene to help rescue victims.

Although the excavator had yet to arrive at the scene of the accident at the time of this report, sympathisers, comprising traders and residents besieged the scene and caused a gridlock.

The Ibadan building incident happened barely 72 hours after a similar incident in Lagos in which no fewer than 20 persons died.

Meanwhile, the spokesman for the police in Oyo State, SP Olugbenga Fadeyi, confirmed to  NAN that rescue efforts were on-going at the building site.

“ What is important now is to remove the debris and rescue those involved and after that the number of causalities will be ascertained.

“ The Commissioner of Police, Shina Olukolu is here as well as the Fire Service carrying out rescue operations.

“ The cause of the collapse is, however, yet to be ascertained.

On Wednesday a building housing a school and other businesses collapsed in Lagos leaving no fewer than 12 school children and others dead.

Many more were injured in the accident.