The aftermath of Friday’s building collapse at Ebute Metta, Lagos State, continues to unfold as the death toll has climbed to three with the discovery of the lifeless body of a 12-year-old boy.
Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, the territorial coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency, verified this information during a press briefing in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) had previously reported the retrieval of two adult bodies, a male and a female, from the debris of the two-storey building that tragically crumbled on Herbert Marculley Way in Ebute Metta. The incident occurred on Friday morning.
According to Farinloye, the Lagos Building Control Agency had issued evacuation notices multiple times for the ill-fated structure, disclosing that all original occupants had vacated the premises.
“It was alleged that the property had been sold out about four months ago.
“Three of the occupants jumped to safety with the assistance of the residents,” Farinloye said.
He added that search and rescue operations were ongoing.
“According to accounts of residents, before the collapse, a dog, which the people in the collapsed building had been taking care of, got to the building and started barking in a sorrowful manner and refused to eat or enter the building.
“No sooner had the dog left than the building came down,” Farinloye said.
