By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
There was panic and chaos at the Otta-Ona Junction by Mobile filling station in Ikorodu, Lagos, after a two-storey building under construction suddenly collapsed on Tuesday afternoon, leaving three persons still trapped beneath the rubble.
The incident, which occurred around 3:00 pm, saw emergency responders racing against time to rescue victims buried under the debris. So far, nine adult males have been pulled out alive by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).
Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, confirmed the development. He said the agency received a distress call around 2:02 pm and mobilized its response teams to the site, arriving at about 2:40 pm.
“Upon arrival, we discovered that a two-storey building under construction had collapsed. As of now, three persons remain trapped while nine have been successfully rescued and given immediate medical attention by our Pre-Hospital Care Unit,” he said.
While the exact cause of the collapse remains unclear, Dr. Oke-Osanyintolu noted that safety measures were immediately activated, and the site was cordoned off to prevent further casualties.
“Our Tiger and Lion Response Teams commenced search and rescue efforts immediately, and heavy-duty equipment like the excavator has been deployed to speed up recovery operations. Thankfully, no deaths have been recorded yet, but search and rescue is still ongoing,” he added.
The incident has once again brought to the fore growing concerns over building safety and regulatory compliance in Lagos State, especially in areas witnessing rapid construction growth like Ikorodu.