There was chaos in the Sabo area of Osogbo, Osun State, when an abandoned building, reportedly used as a hideout by hoodlums, collapsed on Sunday morning.
Trapped under the rubbles were five persons after the structure came down around 7:30 am, sparking immediate concern among local residents.
Eyewitnesses said that the dilapidated two-story structure had been uncompleted and deserted, serving as a makeshift shelter for cultists and other miscreants.
A local resident, Tunde, noted that the building was well-known to the community and law enforcement as a hotspot for illicit activities, with several police raids conducted there prior to its collapse.
He said: “As I am talking to you, security operatives with rescue teams have arrived the scene. They have brought a Crain machine to the scene; they rescued three people from the rumbles.”
The spokesperson of the Nigerian Security Civil Defense Corps(NSCDC), Osun State Command, Kehinde Adeleke, confirmed the collapse.
According to her, “Subsequent to our earlier report dated 10 June 2024 in which we reported on an uncompleted building used as a residence by hoodlums by AUD primary school, Sabo Elegun.
“The building we reported was an eyesore, and we recommended raiding by the task force and the environmental body to the building is sanitised. The said building collapsed at about 07:30 hrs today, Sunday 14th July 2024, entrapping 5 people.
“Two people have been rescued so far while the remaining three are entrapped under the decking that requires the use of a Crain.
“While we await the crain, people are doing all they can within the physical human capacity to break the decking and connected rods. The LGA chairman and his team were around and they have gone to see how the Crain can be brought down. On ground are the SSG who just arrived , NSCDC, Police commissioner of police and the team, OSEMA, and other government dignitaries.”