By Chiagoziem Abosi
Edited by Ezennia Uche
Residents of Oyingbo, Lagos, had a sleepless night on Monday after a two-storey building collapsed at No. 54 Cole Street, near the United Bank for Africa branch by Cemetery Bus Stop.
Rescue teams responded swiftly, but operations are still ongoing as several people remain feared trapped under the rubble.
The Rescue Operation
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (LSFRS) said it received an emergency call at 12:20 a.m., and a team from the Sari Iganmu station arrived within minutes, by 12:29 a.m.
So far, 15 people have been rescued — seven adult men, four adult women, and four children — all sustaining various injuries. They were taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Metta, and the General Hospital, Odan on Lagos Island for treatment.
According to the LSFRS, the building had been marked as distressed before it gave way — a warning that, sadly, went unheeded.
Official Statement
“It is an ongoing rescue involving an existing two-storey building which had reportedly been marked as distressed before collapsing on the occupants,” said LSFRS Controller General Margaret Adeseye.
She added that while no deaths have been confirmed yet, emergency personnel remain on site, working with search equipment and manual tools to locate any survivors.
The cause of the collapse is still under investigation.
Community Reaction and Impact
The collapse sent shockwaves across Oyingbo. Residents, street vendors and traders rushed to the scene, joining emergency teams to sift through debris and offer help.
“We heard the boom and then people ran. If it was someone’s home, the wahala would have been worse,” said a vendor near the scene.
Locals say the tragedy highlights the recurring problem of unsafe buildings across Lagos. Many fear that structural warnings are often ignored, leaving lives at risk.
Old buildings, overstretched infrastructure, and poor maintenance have long plagued Lagos’ urban communities. Recent collapses in Ebute Metta, Surulere, and Mushin have been linked to substandard materials and lack of structural monitoring.
What Happens Next?
Authorities say forensic work and structural assessments will begin once everyone trapped is found or accounted for.
Meanwhile, Oyingbo residents are urging the government to enforce stricter building safety regulations and relocate occupants of distressed structures before disaster strikes.
“If the building was marked, why did no one act?” asked a resident at the scene.
As rescue efforts continue into the early morning hours, Lagosians are united in one hope — that more survivors emerge and tragedies like this never repeats.
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