The incident occurred less than 48 hours after another building collapse was reported in the Iwofe area of Rivers State, raising fresh concerns over construction safety and regulatory compliance in the state.
Eyewitnesses said workers were inside the three-storey building when it suddenly gave way, trapping several persons beneath the rubble.
Rescue operations commenced immediately, with personnel from the Rivers State Police Command, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Nigerian Red Cross, and other emergency responders mobilised to the scene.
Speaking during the rescue operation, the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Rivers State Police Command, ACP Ikechukwu Okoro, said security agencies were promptly deployed after receiving information about the incident.
“We have been here since morning. The Commissioner of Police directed us to cordon off the area to prevent further casualties and ensure smooth rescue operations. So far, three persons have been rescued alive, though they sustained varying degrees of injuries. Unfortunately, one of the victims later died after being taken to the hospital,” he said.
ACP Okoro added that the area had been secured to prevent interference from onlookers and scavengers, stressing that the priority was to save lives and ensure public safety.
Val Onwumelu, popularly known as the “Instigator of Port Harcourt,” who deployed heavy-duty equipment to assist with the rescue operation, said his team responded after receiving reports that people were trapped beneath the collapsed structure.
“When we arrived, we could hear voices from within the debris. We carefully carried out excavation work with our engineers and successfully rescued two persons alive. Sadly, one casualty has been recorded,” he said.
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