Many Trapped As Building Collapses In Onitsha Market

• Two-story building collapses at Ochanja Market in Anambra, trapping many; incident reported around 6 p.m. on Monday
• Onitsha South Local Government confirms incident, many still trapped; sets up seven-man Committee of Enquiry to investigate causes

A two-story building collapsed at Ochanja Market in Anambra State’s Onitsha South local government area, trapping many people.

This incident occurred around 6 p.m. on Monday when traders.

Mr Paul Onuachalla, Secretary of the Onitsha South Local Government Area in Anambra State, confirmed the incident and said many people were still trapped under the building as of Tuesday morning when this report was filed.

According to him, those near the building reported hearing noises before it collapsed.

According to him, the council is still trying to determine the exact number of people trapped.

Onuachalla also disclosed that the Council has set up a seven-man Committee of Enquiry to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the collapse.

Onuachalla said the committee comprises a police officer, a building engineer, and other relevant professionals in the building industry.

“We want to, first of all, sympathize with the victims of the building collapse yesterday and, as I speak with you, the Onitsha South local government Emergency Management Agency is working for hand in gloves with the Anambra State Fire Service and the Health Department to ensure the safe rescue of victims and provide medical assistance.”

“This incident is simply an act of sabotage on the part of some traders who, instead of following the due process and Building Code, chose to compromise the law and undertake the project themselves.

“The Council is setting up a seven man Committee of Enquiry to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the building Collapse and the Committee membership would include a police personnel a building engineer and other relevant bodies in the sector.

“But this also goes to vindicate the Onitsha South local government Council about our strict compliance with the Building Code and other relevant laws guiding the construction of permanent structures in the area.”

“We as a government have made spirited efforts to ensure that the rules of Building Codes are respected but some sections of the public see it as witch hunting or targeting them, this time no defaulter would be speared ” he added.