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Tragedy struck late Friday night in Owode-Ede, Osun State, as a two-storey shopping complex under construction collapsed, leaving three people dead and four others seriously injured.
According to reports, the victims were tiling apprentices who were staying overnight inside the building to resume work early the following morning.
Their supervisor was reportedly absent when the disaster struck.
The Osun State Commandant of the Federal Fire Service, Femi Isaac, confirmed the incident to journalists on Saturday.
He stated that the agency received a distress call from the Divisional Police Officer of ‘A’ Division around 11:00 p.m. on Friday and immediately deployed rescue personnel to the scene.
“Three people died, and their bodies have been deposited at the mortuary, while five were rescued alive and taken to a private hospital in Ede.
“Four sustained serious injuries, with some suffering bone fractures in their legs and hands. Only one person, who stayed up late, escaped unhurt.”
Preliminary findings revealed that the workers had noted structural weaknesses in the building prior to the collapse.
The most senior apprentice recounted to rescuers that he had warned his colleagues against sleeping on the upper floor shortly before the structure gave way.
Joint rescue operations were swiftly executed by the Federal Fire Service, the Nigeria Police Force, and operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Local residents reported hearing a deafening sound shortly before 11:00 p.m., which drew neighbors to the scene.
John, a resident, described the harrowing moments, saying “I live in the neighborhood where the collapsed building is located. It’s a two-storey structure. Three dead bodies were recovered from the rubble, and several others were injured. From what we gathered, those affected were sleeping inside the building.”
John added that emergency responders maintained search and rescue operations into the early hours of Saturday.
Authorities confirmed that the owner of the building, who resides near the site, was present during the rescue operations.
