The Oyo State Government has expressed its determination to conduct an integrity test on all buildings in the area where a storey building located around Ojugbede Jegede Area, Ogbere, Ibadan, on Thursday, collapsed and claimed 10 lives while seven persons were rescued.
The affected building was owned by an 80-year-old man identified as Babare Lamidi, said to have also lost five of his grandchildren to the incident.
PUNCH observed during a visit to the area that the affected area had been cordoned off by the security agents.
An eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the issue, told our correspondent that the state government had pledged to conduct an integrity test on all the buildings in the area of the collapse to avoid a recurrence.
He said, “The state government delegation led by the Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development,Williams Akin-Funmilayo, commiserated with the people of the community as well as disclosed that an integrity test would be carried out on all the buildings in the area.”
Another source said, “The affected building is distressed hence the collapse that led to the death of no fewer than 10 persons.”
Also, the Commissioner of Police, Ayodele Sonubi, during his visit to the scene, said the building collapse led to the immediate loss of 10 lives while eight others were currently battling with various degrees of life-threatening injuries.
“Adequate security has currently been emplaced in the area to prevent hoodlums from taking over the incident scene and as well protect the lives and property of other residents within the jurisdiction.
“An investigation is ongoing at the moment to unravel the possible circumstance that could have led to the incident,” he promised.
Also, the General Manager, the state Fire Services, Yemi Akinyinka, while confirming the incident, said they received a distress call from the people in the neighborhood at 2am.
“May I inform you that the state fire services agency received a distress call at around 2 am at Jegede Olunloyo area, Ibadan, of which 10 persons have been recovered from the debris of the collapsed building, while nine persons were rescued.
“A rescue operation is still going on. I thank you,” he confirmed.
