TheCable

 After a 9-hour rescue operation led by Ibikunle Amosun, , Ogun state governor, the government announced thatno one is still trapped in the building, a shopping complex, located at Itoku, Abeokuta.

A witness had earlier told TheCable that the four-storey building collapsed around 8:30am.

AbdulMajid Alli, the state commissioner of police, had briefed reporters about the incident, saying the situation was under control.

“It happened early this morning and all security operatives are on ground, His Excellency, the governor is also on ground, directing the activities of the evacuation,” he had said.

“So far, work is on and no rescue yet but we hope to pick some of them alive.”

However, in a statement issued by the government later in the day, said while 16 people were on duty when the tragedy occurred, eight managed to escape unhurt.

The wounded were said to have been rushed to the hospital, out of which two have reportedly been discharged, five still undergoing treatment, and one confirmed dead.

“In order to actually confirm that no one was left in the building, the governor ensured that rubbles from the collapsed section were cleared to the ground level,” the statement read.

“At a point,  Amosun actually entered the remaining part of the partially collapsed building to personally inspect and ensure that no one was left behind.

“Site engineers had earlier confirmed that a total of 16 workers were on duty at the building, which was still under construction as at the time of the unfortunate incident on Friday morning.

“Eight of these workers escaped unhurt when the accident occurred. Out of the remaining eight that were quickly taken to the hospital, two have been discharged, five are still receiving treatment while one was said to have been brought in dead.

“Governor Amosun, while promising to investigate the cause of the building collapse and prevent a reoccurrence of such an unfortunate incident, assured the good people of Ogun State that the situation was under control.”

Photo credit: Channels TV