Dozens trapped after building collapses in African state (VIDEO)

Around 40 people have been reportedly trapped under rubble following the collapse of a building in central Nigeria. The incident is said to have involved a previously demolished building which was the site of scavenging.   

The collapse occurred around 5pm on Saturday in Sabon Lugbe, a suburb of Abuja in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Local residents worked to free people trapped beneath the ruins, according to videos published on social media.

In an official statement released on Sunday by the FCT Police Command, spokesperson Josephine Adeh confirmed the incident, stating that no fatalities had been recorded.   

Preliminary investigations reveal that the building, located in Vidaz Estate, had previously been demolished by FCT authorities due to its status in an illegally acquired area. However, recent scavenging activity at the site reportedly compromised the structure, causing it to collapse again. 

“Regrettably, the structure was further compromised by scavengers who had been tampering with the remnants for scrap metal, ultimately leading to its secondary collapse,” Adeh said. “A total of five individuals were successfully rescued from the debris.”

Police have urged the public to avoid compromised sites for safety. 

Echoing the concerns, FCT’s director of development control, Muktar Galadima, described the collapse reports as “propaganda,” stating that the building was part of a larger demolition effort that began on Thursday.  

Galadima added that over 500 scavengers had reportedly been on-site when the collapse occurred, which triggered the remains of a demolished slab to fall. 

The incident in Sabon Lugbe follows a similar case in Kubwa, another FCT area, where a section of a two-story building collapsed weeks ago. Four individuals were rescued on that occasion.