The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has warned residents and property developers against engaging in unsafe demolition and construction practices after a two-storey building being manually demolished collapsed in the Aboru area of Lagos.
The incident, which occurred around midnight at No. 42 Governors Road, Aboru, in the Alimosho area of the state, claimed the life of one adult male, while two others were rescued alive from beneath the rubble.
According to LASEMA Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the agency’s Alpha Eagle Response Team was dispatched to the scene at about 12:56 a.m. following a distress call.
Upon arrival, emergency responders discovered that workers had become trapped after the structure partially collapsed during the demolition operation.
LASEMA immediately activated the state’s Emergency Response Plan and assumed command of the multi-agency rescue operation, with personnel from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) joining the effort.
Two adult males were successfully pulled from the debris and given first aid by LASAMBUS before being taken to a nearby medical facility for further treatment. A third victim, also an adult male, was recovered dead.
The incident has renewed concerns over the risks associated with manual demolition of structures, particularly when such activities are carried out without adequate safety measures or the supervision of certified professionals.
Oke-Osanyintolu urged developers, property owners and residents to strictly comply with building regulations and avoid using unqualified personnel for demolition and construction work.
He also appealed to members of the public to report unsafe or suspicious building activities to emergency authorities through the 767 and 112 toll-free emergency lines.
The affected area was cordoned off to protect residents and allow emergency personnel to carry out rescue and recovery operations safely.
The Lagos State Government said it would continue efforts to strengthen emergency response capabilities across the state, including equipment upgrades, capacity building and the decentralisation of response units to improve response times.
The government also expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and wished the injured victims a speedy recovery.
