By Ado Oyeyemi
A 25-year-old construction worker, Bakeru Iwal, has died after part of an old building collapsed during demolition in Otolo-Nnewi, Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Iwal was reportedly among the workers engaged in demolishing the structure when a section of the building suddenly gave way and trapped him beneath the debris on Tuesday.
Residents and eyewitnesses at the scene said the incident occurred while the demolition work was ongoing, prompting an immediate response from security operatives.
The spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Wednesday.
Ikenga said officers attached to the Otolo Divisional Headquarters responded to the scene, secured the area and commenced preliminary investigations.
He said the victim’s remains were recovered and deposited at a mortuary pending autopsy and other necessary examinations.
According to the police spokesperson, the command had also documented the scene as part of efforts to establish the circumstances surrounding the fatal incident.
He said, “Preliminary information indicates that the building was being demolished when a section of the structure suddenly collapsed, trapping one of the workers.”
The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Nnanna Ama, directed that the investigation be conducted professionally and thoroughly to determine the circumstances of the collapse and establish whether anyone should be held responsible.
The command urged residents to remain calm and allow the investigation to run its course, assuring that further updates would be provided when necessary.
The incident came weeks after a similar building collapse in the Aboru area of Lagos State claimed one life and left two others rescued during the manual demolition of a two-storey building.
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The Lagos incident occurred at No. 42, Governors Road, Aboru, in the Alimosho Local Government Area of the state.
