September 18, (THEWILL) – Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, has ordered a strict probe into the immediate and remote causes of the building collapse at 7 Imman Street, off Aka Road, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The governor also directed the Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, to immediately set up a Panel of Inquiry to investigate the unfortunate incident.
According to a statement by the state Commissioner for information and strategy, comrade Ini Ememobong, the panel is to conclude its work within one month, and if it is found that the collapse of the building was a result of any acts of negligence or wrongdoing, those responsible will face the full wrath of the law.
He expressed the deepest condolence of the state to the families, whose relatives were trapped and eventually died in the collapsed building, while wishing the survivors a quick recovery.
Governor Emmanuel directed the Commissioner for Health to immediately ensure that victims are treated with prompt attention in suitable medical facilities to avert further casualties.
The Governor, however, expressed his sincere appreciation to all the first responders, rescue and security agencies, Government Officials, voluntary organizations and all citizens who took part (especially the construction companies that donated their equipment) in the rescue operation, which he acknowledged lasted many hours.
THEWILL reports that at the last count, six persons were on Sunday, recovered from the rubbles of the four-story building that reportedly collapsed on Saturday evening.
Out of the six, two are reported dead, while doctors at the popular Life Care Specialist Hospital, are still battling to save the lives of four others who were rushed in there in very critical conditions.
An eye witness, Mr. Christopher Uko, who spoke to THEWILL correspondent at the scene, said after a long search by the rescue teams made up of a technical crew of the State Ministry of Works, State Department of Fire service, Federal Road Safety Commission, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and construction companies in the state, one dead body was recovered, whose head was severed from the body, while four persons were rescued alive.
He said not long after they were rushed to the hospital, the second death was recorded due to multiple injuries.
“I have a shop in the vicinity, the first person that died is my friend, who we work together in my barbershop. I can’t really explain what happened because I told him to boil water for me and the next thing was the loud noise of the building collapse. I found myself on the ground and I was able to stand up unhurt, but he was trapped and eventually died.
Our correspondent, who visited the scene of the incident reports that Imman Street from the entrance at Aka Road has become a Mecca of the sort, as people all over the state, both great and small are visiting to have a glimpse of the gory incident which is relatively strange in the state.
The regional controller of NEMA, Mr. Godwin Tepikor, who came from Port Harcourt, River State, for the rescue mission, said investigations have since commenced ascertaining the cause of the unfortunate incident.
He suspected that the building was either not approved by the relevant authorities, was constructed using substandard building materials or was not built according to the building code.
He assured that relevant stakeholders have been mobilised to carry out necessary actions to calm the situation and restore normalcy to the state.
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