The neighborhood of Jegede Olunloyo in Ona-Ara local government, Ibadan, Oyo State, was shaken to its foundation when a building collapsed on Thursday, leaving a trail of deaths and destruction in its wake.
The tragic incident, which occurred in the early hours of the morning, has sent shockwaves through the community, leaving many to mourn the loss of loved ones.
The building collapse has left an indelible mark on the lives of those affected. Beyond the statistics and structural analysis lies a tapestry of human stories – of loss, grief, and resilience. …CONTINUE READING
Mrs. Funmilayo Oyedele, 35, who lost her seven-year-old son, Emmanuel, in the tragedy said, “He was my everything,” as she wept, clutching a photograph of the deceased child. “I was preparing his school uniform when I heard the loud noise. I rushed outside, but it was too late.”
Another family badly hit by the incident is the Adeyemos. The family lost three members: father, Kayode, 45; mother, Bukola, 38; and their 10-year-old daughter, Tolani. Their 12-year-old son, Segun, survived with injuries.
Temitope Ogunyemi, 25, was rescued from the rubble after five hours. “I keep thinking about those who didn’t make it,” she said, her voice trembling. “I was supposed to meet my friend, Bukola, that morning. Now she’s gone.”
Also speaking with our correspondent, Taoreed Olapade who lost one of his children said, “Some people also died aside those who died earlier yesterday.When the people from government came yesterday, we were hearing they wanted to help Baba Ire to the end because he was living in a rented apartment before he built this house.
“He doesn’t have any other place to live. Government should please help us, they should assist in rebuilding the collapsed building.
Daughter of the owner of the collapsed building, Mrs. Tawakalitu Lamidi said, “We pray that God help us so we don’t see this kind of thing again. I thank our government, we even need their help because there’s no place for us to stay like this. We don’t have any house to live in again and we can’t ask God questions.
“We can’t say what God did is wrong. Some people died, some people are in the hospital. What God did, it’s only Him that understands. We’re begging our government to have mercy on us and the people in the hospital too, how to pay their hospital bills and when they come back they have no place to stay.
The owner of the collapsed building, who is currently receiving treatment at a nearby hospital, Alhaji Dauda Lamidi said, “I went to the toilet, came back, sat down beside the table and the building came crashing. That was how it happened. I built the house about 40 years ago. Please the government should help me with money, I don’t have anywhere to go.”
Eyewitnesses recounted that the collapsed building, which was built over 30 years ago and one of the earliest buildings in the area, crumbled around 2 am, trapping residents inside. Panic set in as neighbours rushed to the scene, desperately trying to rescue those buried beneath the rubble.
A nearby resident, Mrs Seun Akinbiyi said, “I was awoken by the sound of crumbling concrete, rushed outside to see the building had collapsed. It was like a nightmare.”
Another resident, Alhaji Daud Olaiwola said the owner of the collapsed building used for treatment of mentally sick persons is a good person. “If you bring someone to Baba Ire who has been using the building for traditional care of mental illness patients and others, even when you don’t have anything, Baba Ire would take care of them. It will be hard before you can see someone that will take care of someone without collecting money first.
“Wherever they bring those with mental illnesses from, Baba Ire will take care of them and heal them. One of them, her parents brought her, she was healed and even got a husband and now children.”
The Oyo State Fire Services Agency said it received a distress call at 2am and swiftly responded to the emergency. Rev. Akinyemi Akinyinka, General Manager of Oyo State Fire Services, confirmed that 10 bodies were recovered from the debris, while seven people were rescued alive.
He said, “Our teams worked tirelessly to rescue those trapped, we pray for the families of the deceased and wish the injured a speedy recovery.”
The Jegede Olunloyo community is still reeling from the shock of the tragedy. Residents gathered at the scene, consoling one another and paying respects to the victims.
Some of them described the incident as a terrible loss for the community, urging the authorities to investigate the cause of the collapse and take measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
The Oyo State Government has promised to investigate the incident, with officials from the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development visiting the site.
“We will leave no stone unturned in determining the cause of this tragedy,” said Professor Raphael Afonja, Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development.
Also, the Deputy Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Muhammed Abiodun Fadeyi while speaking at the scene of the incident said there are still some houses in the vicinity that are weak and people inside them need to vacate them. He said the State House of Assembly will make law concerning building across the state, so as to curb a reoccurrence of such incidence.
He, however, said the government will give necessary assistance to the victims and families of those that lost their lives in the collapsed building.
Meanwhile, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, has sympatised with the victims and families of those who were involved in the incident.
Oba Olakulehin made this disclosure in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Comrade Solomon Ayoade.
The statement reads, “The Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Akinloye Owolabi Olakulehin, Ige Olakulehin 1 is using this medium to sympatise with the victims and families of those who were involved in the building collapse incident in Ibadan on Thursday.
“Based on the available reports, ten people have reportedly lost their lives in the incident. Several others were injured as a result of the unfortunate incident that occurred at Jegede area of Ibadan in Ona Ara local government area.
“This is an unfortunate incident that should be investigated properly. It is a sad occurrence that should be stopped in Ibadanland. The relevant agencies involved in building construction and town planning should carry out their responsibilities to prevent future occurrences.
“I am appealing to the experts in building construction and planning to ensure that relevant materials are used and all protocols are followed before, during and after construction of buildings in Ibadanland to prevent this kind of incident.
“I want the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and other stakeholders to provide prompt relief materials to the victims and their families.
“I also want to appeal to the relevant professionals to provide necessary support to the victims who are still receiving treatments and their families.
“It is my prayer that Ibadanland, Oyo state and Nigeria will continue to protect the lives and property during my reign. Amen”.
