Two persons were confirmed dead yesterday, while 14 others were rescued alive from the rubble after a three-storey building with a penthouse under construction collapsed, on Oriwu Street, in Lekki area of Lagos.

But the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, said six persons were rescued.
The victims were labourers working at the site located at House 29, Oriwu Street.

The cause of the collapse could not be immediately ascertained, but the report said it caved in about 4 pm.
The two bodies were recovered at about 7.45 pm. Spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hudenyin, who confirmed the incident, said operatives of the command were mobilised to the scene immediately it received the information.

He said, “Two persons died. A total of 14 persons have so far been rescued and taken to Lagos Island General Hospital for treatment. Operatives of the Command remain on ground to provide security for the ongoing rescue operation”.

On his part, Permanent Secretary, LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, explained that “Following distress calls received via the CRM on the 767/112 Emergency Toll-Free Lines today, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, activated the State’s Emergency Response Plans and Response Team from its Lekki and Cappa Bases. Upon arrival at the incident scene, LASEMA’s Shark and Eagle Response Teams discovered that a three-storey building under construction had collapsed at the aforementioned location. The immediate cause of the incident is yet to be ascertained.

“So far, two adult males have been extricated from the rubble of the collapsed building. Six seriously injured adult males were rescued and were administered immediate medical care by the LRU Pre-Hospital Care Unit, before being transported to Marina General Hospital for further treatment.

“LASEMA Response Teams have commenced Search and Rescue Operation. LRT is coordinating other common stakeholders for effective response at the incident scene. The agency’s heavy duty equipment (Excavator) was deployed to the incident scene and is still in operation. Search and Rescue Operation is still ongoing.”

Rescue operators at the scene included the Police, LASEMA Response Team, LRT. Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA, Rapid Response Squad, Lagos State Ambulance Service, LASAMBUS, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, among others.

Two suspected kidnappers, Utubor Uchenna and Felix Ebama, have confessed to collecting N10 million ransom from their last operation before they were arrested.

The suspects confessed on Wednesday while identifying houses where they kept their victims.

Speaking to journalists in Benin, Uchenna and Ebama, who are part of a seven-man gang, admitted to being involved in several kidnapping cases in Edo Central.

Uchenna revealed that their last victim was targeted because of the luxury car he drove. He said the victim was kidnapped alongside a lady, and both were released after paying N10 million ransom.

Uchenna said, “The last operation we did fetched us N10 million ransom. We abducted a man who drove flashy cars, and he was with a lady. They were both kidnapped.

“We are here to identify the house where we keep our victims. We have been involved in several kidnapping operations.”

In a move to tackle crime in the state, the state government on Wednesday began the demolition of houses linked to kidnappers.

The demolition took place in Illeh, Esan West Local Government Area and Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Akhere Paul, who led the operation, said the action was in line with the anti-kidnapping law recently passed by the Edo State House of Assembly and signed by Governor Monday Okpebholo.

He said, “This house has been used for criminal activities. They keep kidnapped victims here, and dangerous weapons were recovered by the police during a raid.

“According to the new law, any house found to be used for kidnapping activities will be demolished. This will serve as a warning to others.”

Akhere advised landlords to properly profile their tenants before renting out their properties.

He added, “Go to the police station to help you verify the identity of any new tenant. You must know who they are, where they work, and what they do to avoid situations like this.”

He assured the people that the demolition exercise would continue as part of Governor Okpebholo’s effort to rid the state of criminals.

Also speaking, the Commander of the Special Task Force, SP Michael Anetor, said the exercise would discourage others from engaging in kidnapping.

Anetor urged residents to report suspicious activities to the police or members of the task force, adding that a safer Edo is everyone’s responsibility.

A Nigerian man, 55, has been arrested by the South African Police Service (SAPS) on suspicion of drug trafficking shortly after landing at OR Tambo International Airport from São Paulo, Brazil.

SAPS spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Amanda Van Wyk, confirmed the arrest in a statement released on Tuesday, stating that authorities discovered the suspect had allegedly swallowed cocaine capsules worth an estimated R7.5 million, IOL SA reports.

“The suspect had just landed from São Paulo, Brazil when he was intercepted by police. A medical X-ray revealed that he had swallowed multiple objects suspected to be capsules containing cocaine,” said Van Wyk.

She further stated that the suspect is still in the process of expelling the ingested capsules.

The suspect is expected to appear in the Kempton Park Magistrates’ Court soon.