‘I Ran Out Naked’, Victim of Abuja Collapsed Building Speaks

• A victim of the collapsed two-storey building in Kubwa, Abuja, Abdullahi Masud, recounted his harrowing experience
• Another resident heard a rumbling sound around 7 am and rushed to the scene, where they saw the building had collapsed, with rescue efforts ongoing to reach those still trapped inside

A victim of the collapsed two-storey building in the Kubwa area of Abuja has shared his harrowing experience. The building at Plot C31, Sultan Dasuki Road collapsed on Saturday morning.

The last victim rescued, a corps member, was found unconscious under the rubble by officials from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), FCT Emergency Management Department (FEM), FCT Fire Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Nigeria Police Force. The corps member was promptly transported to the Kubwa General Hospital.

Two other victims, Abdullahi Masud and his female guest, had managed to escape before the collapse and were also taken to the hospital. Masud recounted his ordeal, stating that a neighbour had previously pointed out a cracked wall near the staircase.

“I later noticed an unfamiliar sound from several parts of the building while I was bathing in the morning. I managed to run out naked. I learned that other people could escape, too, leaving only one lady stranded at the time. While in the hospital, my girlfriend was brought too,” Masud said.

Another resident, who remained anonymous, said, “I heard a rumbling sound around 7 am. I thought it was from my next compound, only for me to rush here, and I hear the commotion. So I went to the front and saw that the building had collapsed. They have been trying to rescue people. FEMA is around. Fire service is also around. They have rescued some people. They are still trying to rescue more people. There are people still trapped inside.”

Mrs. Florence Dawon Wenegieme, the Acting Director General of FEMD, was at the scene and confirmed that the search and rescue efforts would continue until they reached ground zero.

This incident follows a recent school collapse in Jos, Plateau state, which killed at least 22 people and injured over 100.