Panic gripped residents of Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, on Monday evening after a building in the area collapsed.
The FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD) said it received a distress call about the incident at about 7:20 pm and immediately mobilised emergency responders to Wuse Zone 4.
According to Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and Social Media to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, the FCT Administration’s Department of Development Control had earlier sealed the building.
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Olayinka said occupants of the building had also been directed to vacate the premises before the collapse.
Although no casualties had been confirmed at the time of filing this report, it remained unclear whether anyone was trapped beneath the rubble.
Rescue and search operations were ongoing at the scene, with emergency responders awaiting the arrival of an excavator to facilitate the operation.
The spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh, said a police response team led by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Department of Operations, ACP Edward Akaniyene, and the Area Commander, Metro, ACP Georgelyn Ufomadu, promptly arrived at the scene.
Adeh added that personnel from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Federal Fire Service, FCTA Security Service Department, and other emergency agencies had joined the search and rescue operation.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the building had earlier been marked and sealed by the Department of Development Control, Abuja. So far, no victims have been confirmed. However, search and rescue operations are still ongoing to identify and rescue any persons who may be trapped in the rubble,” she said.
She said an investigation had commenced to establish the circumstances surrounding the collapse and determine its possible cause.
“Further details on the extent of damage will be communicated in due time. The Command urges residents to remain calm and security-conscious, avoid the affected area, and cooperate with emergency responders to facilitate the ongoing rescue operation,” Adeh added.
Details of the number of people affected and the cause of the collapse were still emerging as rescue operations continued.
Members of the public were advised to remain calm and stay away from the affected area to allow emergency and security personnel unhindered access to the scene.