- Odibo Victory
A 14-year-old girl has, alongside her mother and a tenant, died after a three-storey building collapsed in the Baale area of Ajuwon, Ogun State.
Ajuwon is a border community between Ogun and Lagos states, with many of its residents working in Lagos.
The building reportedly collapsed during a heavy downpour at about 2p.m on Monday.
One of the surviving tenants recounted his narrow escape, saying he had been asleep when he experienced what he described as a strange warning.
“I was sleeping when someone tapped me in my dream and told me to get up because the house wanted to collapse.
“I stood up, thinking it was just a dream. Immediately I stepped outside, the building collapsed behind me.
“That’s all I know happened. The house was weak. I’ve lost all my belongings, but I thank God for sparing my life,” he said.
The 14-year-old girl, whose identity is yet to be confirmed was initially recovered dead, while her mother and another middle-aged male tenant were later recovered from the rubble and also confirmed dead.
Officials of the Ogun State Building Production Management Authority (OGBPMA), rescue personnel, and police officers from the Ajuwon Police Station were at the scene of the incident.
The tragedy left residents in shock, with many expressing grief over the loss of lives.
Some eyewitnesses alleged that rescue officials did not arrive until about 6 p.m. before recovery efforts began.
This was nearly four hours after the building collapsed, before recovery efforts began.