Three people, possibly more, are thought to have perished when a building under construction collapsed near Isi Ewu Road in the Nbodo Community of Rivers State’s Ikwerre Local Government Area.
The dead victims were reportedly laborers who were on the job site of the two-story building at the time of the incident.
Although there were few specifics about the incident at the time this report was filed, it was learned that it happened on a Saturday night while some people suffered injuries and were taken to the hospital.
Additionally, it was reported that Dr. Samuel Nwanosike, the chairman of the Ikwerre Local Government, and members of the Nigeira Security and Civil Defence Corps intervened to stop further casualties.
Olufemi Ayodele, the NSCDC’s public relations officer for the Rivers State Command, confirmed the incident on Sunday morning.
Michael Ogar, the state commandant of the NSCDC, who visited the scene and was quoted by Ayodele in a statement, claimed that the incident was caused by the use of subpar materials.
Ogar, who was represented by Assistant Commandant James Ngene, Head of the Rivers NSCDC Disaster Management Rescue Team, disclosed that a preliminary investigation had shown that the rods, pillars, and blocks used in the two-story building’s construction fell far short of the necessary standards.
The statement reads, “It is high time Nigerians began to take responsibility for their actions most especially when life of humans are involved.
“The collapse of the two-storey building at Aluu in Ikwerre Local Government Area could have actually been avoided if standardised materials and right specifications were used.
“Owners of buildings and landlords are hereby advised to be wary of desperate and quack building contractors who cares only about their pockets and not the lives of innocent people.
“The Rivers State Commandant lauded the Chairman Ikwerre Local Government Area, Hon. Samuel Nwanosike for mobilising three pay loaders and providing the necessary logistics.
“That effort enhanced the rescuing of the victims and recovery of three corpses during a joint rescue operations by NSCDC, National Emergency Management Agency, other security agencies and well-meaning people who worked tirelessly to savage the situation.”
Ogar lauded all others who collaborated with NSCDC operatives in the search and rescue operations, saying “the collapsed building environment has now been cordoned and sealed to prevent further disaster.”
It added, “In furtherance to this, the NSCDC Rivers State Command Crisis Management Department will not relent in carrying out sensitisation and awareness programs to warn the public of imminent dangers and precautionary measures needed to avert both man-made and natural disasters in our environment because prevention is better than cure.”