A major tragedy was narrowly averted on the morning of Saturday, April 19, 2025, after a three-storey building partially collapsed in the Ojodu-Berger area of Lagos State, trapping several people beneath the rubble.
At least nine male victims have been successfully rescued and rushed to the hospital with varying degrees of injuries. The building, an aging structure with only the ground floor in use—occupied by a local eatery known as Equal Right Restaurant—gave way around 9 a.m. as the community remained in a festive Easter mood.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as the building crumbled, prompting immediate emergency response. Rescue teams from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), and LASAMBUS mobilized quickly to the site and began digging through the debris.
Speaking to Hobnob News, Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, through the agency’s spokesperson, Shakiru Amodu, confirmed that nine adult males were pulled out alive and treated on-site by LASAMBUS before being transported to nearby hospitals.
“The building is an old three-storey structure. Only the ground floor was in use as a restaurant, bar, and parking space. The upper floors were completely unoccupied,” Adeseye stated.
She added that while no fatalities have been recorded so far, the possibility of more victims beneath the rubble could not be ruled out, as rescue operations continued to reach ground level.
Adeseye emphasized the dangers of unoccupied buildings, noting, “When a structure is left unused for long periods, it weakens over time. Structural integrity diminishes, increasing the risk of sudden collapse.”
Authorities say the exact cause of the collapse remains under investigation, but assured the public that the situation is under control and that no further danger is imminent.
