The death toll from the collapse of a two-storey building at Alakija Bus Stop in the Satellite Town area of Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos State, has risen to nine, while 27 people were rescued alive following an intensive overnight rescue operation.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed on Friday that search, rescue and recovery operations at the scene had been successfully concluded after emergency responders reached ground zero at about 4:00 a.m.
The building collapsed at approximately 12:47 p.m. on Thursday, trapping several occupants beneath the rubble and prompting a large-scale emergency response.
According to LASEMA’s Head of Public Affairs, Afolabi Olawale, the agency immediately activated its emergency teams, deploying the Sharks Response Team from its Lekki Base and the Alpha Cobra Squad from Onipanu. Both teams arrived at the scene within 40 minutes of the incident.
Several other agencies participated in the rescue effort, including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Red Cross, and the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).
LASEMA disclosed that all 27 rescued victims received immediate pre-hospital medical care from LASAMBUS before being transported to nearby hospitals for further treatment.
The agency said the nine fatalities included four adults who were confirmed dead before emergency responders arrived and five additional victims recovered during the rescue operation, among them a two-year-old girl.
The remains of the deceased have been handed over to the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit for identification and subsequent release to their families.
To aid the operation, LASEMA deployed a heavy-duty excavator alongside two additional excavators provided by CCECC, enabling rescue workers to safely clear debris and access trapped victims.
The Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, alongside the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, supervised the operation throughout its duration.
Meanwhile, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has directed the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) to immediately assess the structural integrity of neighbouring buildings and ensure strict compliance with building safety regulations in the area to prevent further incidents.
LASEMA expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones and wished the injured a speedy recovery. The agency also urged residents to promptly report distressed or defective buildings to LASBCA or through its emergency toll-free numbers, 112 and 767, to help avert similar tragedies.