Anambra Tragedy: Mother, Teenage Daughter Crushed as Three-Storey Building Collapses

Anambra Tragedy: Mother, Teenage Daughter Crushed as Three-Storey Building Collapses

A mother and her 14-year-old daughter have died after a three-storey building under construction collapsed onto their residence in Okpoko, Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, amid allegations that warnings about the structure’s safety were ignored.

The victims were identified as Mrs Happiness Ugoagu and her daughter, Confidence, who were reportedly asleep in their home when the neighbouring building came crashing down at Anata Anaba, Okpoko.

The incident occurred on Wednesday night, October 7, according to eyewitness accounts, although an initial report by the state government described it as a Thursday morning incident.

The collapse trapped the mother and daughter beneath the debris, while other people caught in the rubble were reportedly rescued and taken to hospital.

The victims’ son, Chimobi Ugoagu, said he was outside the house when the building collapsed, while his mother and sister were inside. He alleged that residents had repeatedly warned the builder about the potential danger posed by the structure, but their concerns were not heeded.

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Residents also claimed that the building stood on waterlogged land and that an engineer had initially advised limiting the structure to two storeys because of the ground conditions. They alleged that construction continued to three storeys despite the reported warning.

Anambra State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Chijioke Ojukwu, visited the scene and described the incident as unfortunate. He said the building was illegal and that authorities had previously issued a stop-work notice.

Ojukwu also blamed the collapse on the alleged use of substandard construction materials and ordered the demolition of the structure. He said the government was investigating other unapproved buildings under construction in the area.

Emergency responders, residents and local government officials took part in rescue and recovery operations. The Anambra State Emergency Management Agency deployed an excavator to assist with clearing the debris, while the National Emergency Management Agency dispatched a team to support the response.

The remains of the mother and daughter were subsequently recovered and evacuated to a morgue.

Ogbaru Local Government Chairman Nnamdi Ifejika expressed condolences to the bereaved family, describing the deaths as a devastating loss. He also called for greater attention to building safety and urged residents to report structures they believe could endanger lives.

The exact technical cause of the collapse had not been independently established in the available reports. The circumstances surrounding the construction, the reported stop-work notice and the allegations that safety warnings were ignored remain issues for the relevant authorities to investigate.

The tragedy has renewed concerns about building safety, compliance with planning regulations and enforcement of construction standards in Nigeria, particularly where buildings are erected on potentially unstable or waterlogged ground.

Anambra Tragedy: Mother, Teenage Daughter Crushed as Three-Storey Building Collapses