Five Dead, 11 Rescued As Three-Storey Building Collapses In Abuja

No fewer than five persons have been confirmed dead after a three-storey building under construction collapsed in the Gudu District area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The tragic incident occurred on Saturday morning at a construction site located behind Gudu Market, throwing the area into confusion as emergency responders, security personnel and residents rushed to rescue victims trapped beneath the rubble.

According to the Federal Emergency Management Department (FEMD), at least 16 persons have so far been rescued from the collapsed structure, while search-and-rescue operations continue at the scene.

In a statement issued by the Head of Public Affairs at FEMD, Nkechi Isa, 11 of the rescued victims were immediately taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abuja, Asokoro District Hospital and Maitama Hospital for urgent medical attention.

However, five other victims were confirmed dead during the incident.

Most of the victims trapped in the collapsed structure are believed to be labourers working at the construction site when the building suddenly caved in.

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Emergency responders from several agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Federal Fire Service, FCT Fire Service, FCT Police Command, and FEMD, were deployed to the area to intensify rescue operations and ensure no victim remained trapped under the debris.

Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with heavy equipment and rescue teams battling to reach trapped victims while anxious relatives and residents gathered around the site.

Officials said rescue efforts remained ongoing as excavators and emergency workers continued clearing debris from the collapsed building.

Although authorities have yet to officially determine the exact cause of the collapse, the incident has once again raised serious concerns over the increasing rate of building collapse in Abuja and other parts of Nigeria.

The latest tragedy comes barely weeks after another building under construction collapsed in the Jikwoyi area of Abuja, leaving several workers injured and sparking renewed debate about weak enforcement of building regulations and safety standards.

Construction experts and residents have repeatedly called on relevant authorities to strengthen monitoring of construction projects and ensure strict compliance with approved engineering specifications to prevent recurring disasters.

Meanwhile, officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration are expected to launch an investigation into the collapse to determine possible structural failures, negligence or violations of building regulations.

The incident has also triggered reactions on social media, with many Nigerians mourning the victims and demanding tougher sanctions against developers and contractors found guilty of compromising building safety standards.

Five Dead, 11 Rescued As Three-Storey Building Collapses In Abuja

Fayose Loses Wife To Cancer After Prolonged Illness

Isaac Fayose has announced the death of his wife following a prolonged battle with cancer.

The social commentator disclosed the sad development in a post shared on his Instagram page, where he uploaded a candlelight image alongside an emotional farewell message to his late wife.

“Rest in peace my darling wife, odabo oyinbo mi,” he wrote.

Before announcing her passing, Fayose had publicly spoken about the severity of her health condition during a recent trip to Australia to be with his family.

According to him, he was devastated by the reality of her deteriorating condition as the cancer had left her extremely weak and unable to speak or perform basic daily activities.

Fayose recounted that his wife, who would normally welcome him warmly at the airport, could no longer do so because of her illness, forcing him to travel home alone by Uber.

He also revealed that the illness had completely changed their family routine, as he now had to care for her personally, including preparing meals because she was no longer strong enough to cook.

The grieving husband further shared emotional moments they spent together during her final days, saying he often sat beside her singing her favourite songs while she responded only by holding his hand.

Reflecting on the painful experience, Fayose spoke about the fragility of life and the limits of wealth, stressing that money and material possessions cannot prevent sickness or death.

He also questioned the actions of people who misuse public office for personal gain, noting that worldly riches ultimately cannot save anyone from life’s inevitable end.

His announcement has since drawn sympathy messages from friends, followers and associates on social media.

Fayose Loses Wife To Cancer After Prolonged Illness

Two Security Guards Get Life Imprisonment for Raping 6-Year-Old Girl in Abuja

Abuja, Nigeria – In a landmark ruling that has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s fight against sexual violence, the Federal Capital Territory High Court has sentenced two private security guards to life imprisonment for the serial rape of a six-year-old girl in Abuja. The abuse lasted for six years, from 2016 until 2022, when the victim finally found the courage to speak out. The convicts, James Sule, 30, and Adamu Yau, 25, were found guilty of repeatedly assaulting the minor at their residence in Penthouse Estate, Lugbe, Abuja. The judgment was delivered by Justice S.M. Mayana of Court 46, Apo, following a diligent prosecution by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) under the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) (VAPP) Act, 2015. The court sentenced both men to life imprisonment without an option of a fine, a punishment NAPTIP’s Director-General, Binta Adamu-Bello, has described as “commensurate with the magnitude of the crime.”

According to a statement by NAPTIP’s Press and Public Relations Officer, Vincent Adekoye, the child sexual abuse case began as a routine household repair. The victim’s grandmother had hired James Sule, then a family security guard, to fix a faulty toilet. While the grandmother was busy in the kitchen, Sule allegedly lured the crying child into the toilet and raped her, threatening her with a knife to ensure her silence. Tragically, the abuse did not stop there. Sule later introduced two other guards—Adamu Yau and a third suspect, Muhammed, who is still at large—into the abuse. The men took turns assaulting the child, often after she returned from school but before her parents arrived home. They threatened to kill her and her entire family if she ever revealed their actions.

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The victim suffered in silence for years. However, her parents eventually noticed unusual behavioral changes—specifically, that she became visibly uncomfortable whenever Sule was around. Unable to explain her sudden fear, they took her to a prayer house, where she confided in a pastor that the three security guards had been sexually abusing her for years. The parents immediately reported the matter to the Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH) , which escalated the case to NAPTIP. The suspects were promptly arrested.

During the trial, which commenced on December 5, 2023, the prosecution presented an airtight case. The NAPTIP legal team called five witnesses, including the victim’s mother, and tendered seven exhibits. The most critical piece of evidence was a medical report confirming that the victim’s hymen had been breached. Both Sule and Yau pleaded not guilty when they were first arraigned on October 23, 2023. However, after a rigorous legal battle, Justice Mayana found them guilty on multiple counts under the VAPP Act.

Reacting to the judgment, NAPTIP Director-General Binta Adamu-Bello praised the judiciary and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to enforcing the VAPP Act across Nigeria. “I am excited that indeed, adequate justice, which is commensurate with the magnitude of the crime committed by the convicts, was duly served on them,” Adamu-Bello said. “This will go a long way to assuage the pain and traumatic experience of the victim and her family. It will no longer be business as usual for them.” She also issued a stern warning to parents, school owners, and estate managers, urging them to conduct strict background checks and due diligence on all service providers, including security guards, drivers, and babysitters, before employing them. The two convicted security guards have since been remanded to the Kuje Correctional Centre, where they will serve their life sentences. A third suspect, Muhammed, remains at large, and NAPTIP has vowed to track him down.

Two Security Guards Get Life Imprisonment for Raping 6-Year-Old Girl in Abuja