metro

Wike storms scene of collapsed building in Abuja, orders arrest of owner

Published

8 months ago

August 24, 2023

Wike storms scene of collapsed building in Abuja, orders arrest of owner

Federal Capital Territory FCT minister, Nyesom Wike has ordered the immediate identification and arrest of the owner of a two-storey building which collapsed in Abuja on Wednesday night.

The building had at least 39 residents, with two certified dead, and 37 rescued and taken to various hospitals.

Newstrends had earlier reported the collapse of the building, located at Lagos Crescent, Garki Village in the Garki District of the nation’s capital

While it caved in around 11pm on Wednesday amid heavy downpour, rescue operations were initially very slow over the night as there was no immediate access to an excavator and rescue efforts were purely manual.

Speaking at the scene of the incident, Wike who noted that original residents of the area were designated for resettlement, however wondered why for years, the FCT Administration could not carry out such resettlement.

While he applauded the rescue efforts, Wike said; “It is unfortunate that we woke this morning to the very disturbing news of this building collapse. It is not what we contemplated. Let me thank the agencies particularly NEMA and FEMA that have supported us to rescue not less than 37 lives. It is unfortunate that we lost two lives. I will appeal to the Permanent Secretary to make sure that funds are raised to pay the hospital bills of those who were rescued so that we do not lose any more person, and this should be done immediately.

READ ALSO:

“Secondly, these are the things we have been saying, nobody knows whose turn it will be, therefore when government says it will take actions in areas we believe there are illegal developments or buildings that do not comply with the standard codes, it is not as if anybody has any personal vendetta but for me it is for us to do the right thing.

“I don’t know why it has taken long that the FCTA has not resettled them and so we will take immediate action to see that the indigenes of these place are resettled and then government has to plan out this place.

“When government says take building plan, it is not to suffer anybody but to make sure that everyone is protected. Cities are planned to forestall this kind of occurrences. Imagine buildings without approval. I will ask that we must identify and arrest the owner of this property. It is very important.

“Government will, of course, take over this area and make sure no further development is carried out here. I want all the stakeholders here to please work with government in the interest of everybody. No one has come here to say I like A, I don’t like B. I know sometimes government’s decisions may not be too comfortable with the people, but in the long run, it is in the interest of the people. Now we are all gathered here and none of us is happy we are here. These are the things we are trying to forestall. Again I sympathize with those who lost dear lives, while government will pick up the bills of all those in the hospital. We will also support the rescue efforts and ensure that they get to the last level and rescue everyone still trapped in the rubble”.

On his part, Director General of FCT Emergency Management Agency FEMA, Dr Abbas Idriss said 37 persons were rescued at the scene of the collapsed structure.

READ ALSO:

He said the victims were evacuated to various medical facilities in Abuja.

“Thirty Seven persons have so far been rescued and evacuated to hospital, others reportedly still trapped. Rescue team and others are on ground. Rescue operations on but slowly due to ongoing rain”. They are making frantic efforts at getting an excavator to remove people from the rubble”, he added.

The DG commended the efforts of all stakeholders working hard manually to rescue trapped persons, including members of the community.

It was gathered that the victims were taken to various hospitals including the National Hospital, Asokoro, Nyanya, and Garki District Hospitals, Alliance hospital and Zenith hospital.

Also speaking, Director, Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, explained that the building had no planning approval because the area is meant for resettlement.

“The building is located within the Garki indigenous settlement. The building had two suspended floors, one used for commercial activities while the other floors were used as residential accommodation. The building caved in yesterday (Wednesday) and 37 persons were rescued

“The status of the place is that it is not a planned area so the development had no planning approval. In fact, the area is meant for resettlement from here to Apo resettlement town”

Wike storms scene of collapsed building in Abuja, orders arrest of owner

Up Next

Police arrest Isese activist in Ibadan, detain him

Don't Miss

94-year-old man nabbed for raping teenage girl in Adamawa

metro

Anambra: Vigilante arrested for torturing 60-year-old man to death

Published

6 hours ago

April 27, 2024

Trends Admin

Anambra State Police command’s spokesperson, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga

Anambra: Vigilante arrested for torturing 60-year-old man to death

Two persons have been apprehended in Anambra State over their alleged involvement in the death of a 60-year-old man.

The incident happened in Nza Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of the south east state, according to the police.

The deceased, identified as Mr. Kenneth, was tortured to death by some of his kinsmen, including members of the vigilante operatives over a property dispute.

He was said to have sold a water tank in the family house to resolve some family issues, an act that allegedly prompted his younger brother to arrest him with the help of a vigilante group.

The victim was said to have been subjected to corporal punishment as he was continuously flogged by members of the vigilante operatives engaged by his younger brother.

The wife and children of the deceased have continued to face intimidation and threat over their quest for justice, a source familiar with the development disclosed.

READ ALSO:

The source in the community said, “The incident happened some days ago, the man was accused of selling their family water tank. His younger brother went to engage about five vigilante operatives who came to flog him.

“They tied his two hands and continuously flogged him with sticks and other weapons until he became unconscious. They left him after they had seen that he was no longer breathing.

“His wife and children have been subjected to fear and intimidation as they have vowed to deal with them if they continue to seek justice for the death of their father.”

The state police spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the incident on Friday said one vigilante operative and a relative of the deceased have been arrested.

Ikenga said, “Yes, the incident happened. We have two suspects, one vigilante operative and a relative of the deceased in our custody and they are at the state criminal investigation department at the headquarters.

“Investigation is still ongoing on the matter and we assure you that nothing will be swept under the carpet. More details will be communicated please.”

Anambra: Vigilante arrested for torturing 60-year-old man to death

metro

Friends swap wives for sex weekend in Lekki, activist claims

Published

15 hours ago

April 27, 2024

Trends Admin

Friends swap wives for sex weekend in Lekki, activist claims

Nigerian activist, Comrade Israel Joe, has shaken the table again as he claimed that friends now swap their wives for sex in some parts of Lagos State, Lekki to be precise.

He said this abominable act is not only limited to men as some married women in this same Lekki area of Lagos State, bring in their unmarried friends for three some sex romp just to satisfy their husbands sexual urge and propably keep their marriage.

READ ALSO:

The activist who has been a prominent advocate for social justice and moral integrity said on his social media handle that in some parts of Lagos, (Lekki), friends now exchange their wives during weekends based on mutual agreement and this needs to stop.

He wrote: “In some parts of Lagos (Lekki), friends now exchange their wives during weekends. #TableBreaker”

“Some wives now bring their unmarried friends to do 3-sum with their husband to satisfy his urge”

Friends swap wives for sex weekend in Lekki, activist claims

metro

Bandit leader who forced community to give him chieftaincy title, 2 other kingpins killed in Zamfara

Published

15 hours ago

April 27, 2024

Trends Admin

Bandit leader who forced community to give him chieftaincy title, 2 other kingpins killed in Zamfara

Three bandit kingpins terrorizing Zamfara State, along with some of their fighters, have been killed by a joint security taskforce operating in the state.

According to security expert and counter insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, the bandit kingpins included Kachalla Mati, Jammo Baki, and a former police officer, Kachalla Yada.

In a post on X handle Saturday morning, Zagazola Makama said: “Update: Security Intelligence, in joint efforts with the Militia Joint Task Force, have neutralized 3 bandit kingpins in the North West on April 26, 2024.

The kingpins included Kachillaha Mati, Jammo Baki, and one other ex-police personnel, Kachallah Yada, as well as several other fighters in Tidibale in Gangara villages of ISA and Sabon Birnin LG Zamfara State.

Jammo was very dangerous and ruthless, to the extent that he forced the community to give him a chieftaincy title.

On the other hand, Kachallah Yadda, who was an ex-police officer, is in charge of training the bandit on weapons handling as well as illicit arms trafficking.

The ‘suyanization” of the three terrorists was a huge blow to the bandits in Zamfara State and a relief to the people of the North West.

READ ALSO:

This also got to show that the initiative of the Zamfara state government in collaboration with the security forces since it vowed to never negotiate with bandits but to crush them by any means is yielding positive results.

The recruitment of the Civilian Joint Task Force, popularly known as Askarawa, to go after the bandits in their enclaves and their hideouts was a major game changer.

Just like in the case of the North East, the worst nightmare of the bandits are the “Askarawa,” or Yansakai, as they are popularly called. This was because they have knowledge of the terrain and know the bandits who have in the past operated openly with impunity.

Within the past few months, the Askarawas have captured and killed hundreds of bandits, their informants, and collaborators. They have also recovered thousands of livestock rustled by the bandits, as well as rescued dozens of abducted victims.

This was why the pressure mounted on the bandits in both military, air, and ground offensives is forcing them to beg for “negotiations” through several videos on social media.”

Attempts by PlatinumPost reporters to confirm the killings of the terrorists by relevant security bodies have not yielded the desired results as of the time of filing this report.