A tragic incident occurred early Saturday in Umuahia, Abia State, when an uncompleted three-storey building collapsed, injuring a nursing mother, her five-month-old baby, and another individual. The collapse happened around 3 a.m. at Olokoro Road, Federal Low Cost Housing Estate, Ohobo Afara, sending panic through the neighbourhood. Fortunately, five other family members who were in a nearby bungalow struck by the debris escaped unharmed. All injured victims were immediately rushed to a private hospital for treatment.
Eyewitnesses, including Mr. Babayu Adamu, a security guard at the premises, confirmed that the building had previously shown signs of structural instability. Although some reinforcement efforts were made in the past, the final collapse came unexpectedly. Residents noted that two other three-storey structures in the same compound have also started to cave in, raising further concerns about safety on the premises.
Authorities have since moved into action. The Umuahia Capital Development Authority (UCDA) sealed off the affected property and launched an official investigation. During his visit to the site, UCDA General Manager, Mr. Kingsley Agomoh, expressed relief that no lives were lost and promised that those responsible would face legal consequences once the investigation is complete.
As part of the safety measures, an integrity test will be conducted on the remaining buildings in the compound to determine their stability. The collapse underscores ongoing issues with construction oversight and enforcement in the area, prompting renewed calls for stricter building regulation and routine inspections to prevent similar disasters in the future.
