A woman, Mrs. Happiness Ugoagu, and her 14-year-old daughter, Miss Chikaima Ugoagu, both from Uga in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, have died following the collapse of a three-storey building at Anata Anaba area of Okpoko, Ogbaru Local Government Area.
Angel Network News (ANN) reports that the building, which was still under construction, collapsed and trapped the mother and daughter, who were in their bedroom at the time of the incident.
Residents who spoke to newsmen said they had earlier raised concerns about the construction, noting that the land was waterlogged and unsuitable for a three-storey building.
According to the residents, the engineer who initially handled the project had advised the builder to limit the structure to two storeys due to the condition of the ground. However, the advice was reportedly ignored.
They further alleged that another engineer was later engaged to continue the construction to three storeys, but the building eventually collapsed, killing the landlady of a nearby bungalow and her youngest child.
The son of the deceased, Chimobi Ugoagu, said three members of his family were in the apartment when the building collapsed.
He explained that he was outside at the time of the incident, while his other siblings were in the sitting room. Their mother and Chikaima, however, were in their bedroom when the building came crashing down on them, leaving them with no chance to escape.
Chimobi lamented that he had earlier warned the builder about the danger posed by the structure and joined other residents in calling for the construction to be stopped, but their concerns were allegedly ignored.
Reacting to the incident, the Anambra State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Chijioke Ojukwu, who visited the scene alongside the member representing Ogbaru One Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Noble Igwe, described the incident as unfortunate.
Ojukwu said substandard materials were used in the construction and disclosed that a stop-work notice had previously been issued on the building.
He described the structure as illegal and ordered its demolition, alongside other unapproved buildings under construction in the area.
