Lagos has witnessed yet another disaster in the series of collapsed buildings in the state, this was more worrisome because scores of school children are involved.
COLLAPSED BUILDING: The two-storey building that collapsed at about 10.00am on Wednesday is located at Massey Street, Lagos Island of Lagos State.
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It was gathered that the building, apart from housing a private school, Ohen Nursery and Primary School, it also accommodated tenants on the ground floor.
At least 40 pupils, including 10 dead bodies, had been pulled out of the rubble as at Wednesday afternoon, according to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).
“We were in the market when we heard ‘gboom,’” said Yemisi Bankole, the deputy head of Itafaaji market.
Ohen Nursery and Primary School occupied the first and second floors of the collapsed building while residents live on the ground floor.
Upon the collapse of the building, many men in the neighbourhood rushed to the scene and were able to rescue few pupils before the arrival of LASEMA officials and other rescue teams.
Many pupils and teachers, however, are still trapped in the rubble as at Wednesday afternoon.
Casualties and corpses have been taken to nearby private and government hospitals, witnesses said.
As 2.19 p.m. three children were rescued, one them unscathed. The second child was lifeless while the third one was struggling to remain conscious.
Akinwumi Ambode, the governor of Lagos state who visited the scene some minutes past 3 p.m. said it was an unfortunate thing that such a school existed in the building.
He said the government would provide maximum support to the victims which includes paying the hospital bills.
“It is evident that Lagos state is not aware of such school, it is illegal and the culprits will face the law,” Mr Ambode said.
Adesina Tiamiyu, the general manager of LASEMA who was present at the scene told journalists that people living in the area had been very helpful as they had begun rescue operations before his team’s arrival.
He said they are still working to ensure that those that are still trapped get rescued.
“Parents will be allowed to identify their children, we’ll not stop until we are sure that there is no one left in the building.”
He further said once the rescue mission has ended, the actual figure will be revealed.
Many parents were seen crying in front of Massey Children Hospital situated on the same street.
A resident who identified herself simply as Shekinah, said she never knew there was a school in the collapsed building because the government had marked the building more than three times.
“Government has marked it several times but they’ll only patch it and put tiles after bribing the officials,”
An eyewitness, Abayomi Olaniyan, said he was among those rescuing the victims before the official rescue team came.
Olaniyan, said:
“Some were rescued alive, some dead. One of the teachers still called shortly that she was on the ground floor of the collapsed building, trapped with 20 pupils.
“Something similar happened around here last year. The issue of building collapse is common here and the government must do something about it. Houses will be marked and due for demolition but they will not demolish it; they will renovate it. So many houses here are weak; they are meant to be demolished but they will tell you they are renovating it; they will only paint it.”
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