Controversy trails Abuja multiple accident
Twenty-four people
died in separate accidents, following a deadly car accident and the
collapse of a four-storey building in Abuja on Wednesday.
At least 10 people
were killed when a four-storey building in Garki, collapsed. In another
part of the city, about 14 persons died when a trailer-load of cement
ran over 13 cars.
The four-storey building at Plot 4, Ikole Street, Off Gimbya Street, Area 11, collapsed in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Eyewitnesses say the building caved in around 5am, trapping many of the residents inside.
David Ibrahim, one
of the survivors, said the collapse happened without warning. He and
his brother barely had time to jump out through the window and escape.
However, Mr Ibrahim said his brother’s wife and three children were
still trapped inside.
Dauda Ologboneja, a
taxi driver whose route took him past the area, said frantic family
members were using cell phones to try to locate their loved ones.
“My friend used his
phone to call some people inside the building,” he said. “One guy said
he was feeling hot and that they should come and help him.”
Dangerous situation
The uncompleted
building had been abandoned for the last five years and had become a
temporary shelter for small scale traders and homeless people in the
area. It is allegedly owned by Olawale Kuye.
In 2001, Mr Kuye
was directed by the Federal Capital Territory Authority’s (FCTA)
Development Control Department to stop construction on the building
after he illegally added an extra floor and failed integrity tests.
The director of the
territory’s development control unit, Yahaya Yusuf, said the building
contravened what was approved for the owners. “The unit has already
ordered the occupants of the building to move out. The process of
bringing down the building was still pending at the legal (department)
of Development Control when I received the news that the building has
collapsed this morning.”
The Minister of the
Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Bala Mohammed, who visited the scene a
few hours after the collapse, has threatened to sack Mr Yusuf for
incompetence. He accused the director of “shielding his boys who marked
the houses and are collecting bribes from developers.” He promised a
full investigation into the incident.
Rescue efforts
All emergency
officials of the FCTA, in collaboration with the National Emergency
Management Agency (NEMA), were mobilized to the scene. Members of the
Civil Defence Corps were the first to arrive, using their hands to pull
survivors and bodies out of the rubble. Local construction companies,
including Julius Berger Plc., Gilmore and Reynolds Construction Company
brought in heavy machinery to help clear the debris.
As at press time,
10 people had been rescued and had been taken to hospital, but over 50
persons were still trapped in the debris.
Despite the efforts, residents accused the NEMA of not responding on time.
“The ambulance came
here one hour after the building collapsed,” said Charles Ofoji. “More
lives would have been saved if they came here earlier.”
Car accident
Thirteen people
were killed and scores more injured at the scene of the car accident at
AYA junction. Thirteen cars were crushed when a trailer overturned onto
nearby vehicles.
A combined team of
police officers, road safety personnel, soldiers, Vehicle Inspection
Officers (VIO) and bystanders worked to rescue some of the victims
trapped beneath the truck. People from the other cars involved in the
accident were rushed to the hospital, but the driver of the truck was
nowhere to be found, as he reportedly fled the scene.
One woman, who was
trapped in her car for about an hour, was finally freed when over 30
rescuers worked to unload the truck’s burden of cement, to pave way for
a VIO truck lifter to raise the vehicle.
An eyewitness, who declined to be named, attributed the incident to brake failure.
“The truck hit a car and in the course of an argument between the
truck driver and the car owner, the truck started smashing other cars
that were in front and on its side,” she said. “It looked as if the
truck driver actually meant to kill today.” The FCT minister visited
the National Hospital where the victims of both incidents were taken
for treatment. Mr Mohmmed promised that the FCTA would pay for the
treatment of all the injured persons.
Its a very unfortunate trend in Abuja, especially in the AYA Nyanya axis. Some of us are wont to believe that there are some evil spirits that are behind such occurences. Within just a few days so many lives were lost to articulated vehicles. I use this road every day and can be a first-hand witness.
A trailer almost crushed my car after breaking of the side mirror. I almost hit other vehicles in an attempt to swerve. It was horrible, as the driver did not show any remorse for what he intentionally did. i really think its high time articulated vehicles were restricted to afternoon or late evening, during which vehicular traffic would have reduced. Enough of this killing spree by reckless truck drivers.