Residents and eyewitnesses have recounted how a three-storey building that collapsed in the Satellite Town area of Lagos State on Thursday had shown visible signs of structural failure long before the incident, claiming that repeated warnings to vacate the premises were ignored.
The building, located along Old Ojo Road near Alakija Bus Stop on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, collapsed on Thursday, leaving at least four people dead and several others injured.
According to residents who spoke at the scene, cracks had appeared on the structure’s walls weeks before the tragedy, prompting concerns about its safety.
One eyewitness said government officials had repeatedly advised occupants to leave the building due to its deteriorating condition.
“The authorities warned them several times. The walls had already developed serious cracks, but some occupants refused to move out,” the resident said.
Another witness explained that many people had already relocated from the building because of safety concerns, which reduced the number of occupants present when the structure eventually gave way.
He said several people were trapped beneath the rubble, but emergency responders were able to rescue a number of victims.
“I personally witnessed the rescue of about eight people. Two bodies were also recovered, while several injured victims, including a father and his son, were taken to hospital,” he said.
Residents also revealed that some occupants had begun leaving the building in the days leading up to the collapse. One woman reportedly moved her belongings and vacated the premises just a day before the incident.
The collapse claimed the life of an eight-month-old baby who was reportedly being breastfed when the building suddenly caved in. While the child’s mother survived and was rushed to the Nigerian Navy Hospital for treatment, the infant was trapped beneath the debris and later confirmed dead.
Another victim was identified as Gabriel, an 18-year-old phone repair apprentice who worked in one of the shops located inside the building. His brother described the loss as devastating, saying they had been together only a day before the tragedy.
The building housed residential apartments as well as commercial establishments, including phone repair shops and a betting outlet.
Emergency officials confirmed that 17 people had been rescued alive and taken to various hospitals, while four bodies had been recovered from the rubble as of Thursday evening.
Rescue and recovery operations continued with personnel from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Federal Fire Service, Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Navy, Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, and the Nigerian Red Cross Society working at the scene.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service disclosed that it received a distress call at approximately 11:37 a.m. and immediately deployed responders from the Ijegun-Egba Fire Station, who arrived at the location within minutes.
Authorities said search-and-rescue efforts were ongoing amid concerns that more victims could still be trapped beneath the debris.
