One Dead, Others Rescued as Four-Storey Building Collapses in Lagos

By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed the death of one person after a four-storey building collapsed at 333 Borno Way, Alagomeji, in the Yaba area of Lagos State.

In its Day 2 incident report on Saturday, NEMA said the body of a male victim was recovered from the rubble during ongoing search-and-rescue operations, which have been underway since the building caved in around 7:46 pm on Friday.

Four Rescued Alive, Two Possibly Trapped

Earlier updates indicated that four persons had been rescued alive and were in stable condition. However, there were concerns that two more individuals might still be trapped under the debris.

“Search-and-rescue operation is still ongoing at the building collapse scene. NEMA, LASEMA, Fire Services, Police, FRSC, and NSCDC are on the ground. The number of persons rescued remains four; they are in stable condition. No additional person has been rescued at the time of this report, but there is speculation of two more persons under the rubble,” NEMA announced on X (formerly Twitter).

The agency later confirmed the recovery of a male body, saying, “One body (male) has just been recovered from the rubble. Search-and-Rescue operation is still ongoing.”

Eight Workers Rescued Alive

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service reported that eight construction workers were successfully rescued alive from the site.

Deputy Controller General, Olajide Ogabi, assured residents that public safety concerns—including fears of a gas leak in the Ikeja axis on Friday evening—had been addressed.

“All eight trapped victims have been rescued alive as of 5 am Saturday and are currently receiving treatment in the hospital,” Ogabi stated, adding that the search-and-rescue mission had reached ground zero as rubble evacuation continued.

He clarified that the perceived gas leak was due to a routine decongestion exercise carried out by Axxela Group, owners of the gas pipelines, and that the situation had been neutralised without incident.

Emergency Agencies on Ground

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the Nigeria Police, and other responders have been at the scene since the incident occurred.

As of Saturday afternoon, search-and-rescue teams were still working to ensure no one remained trapped in the collapsed building.

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