Three die, five rescued as two-storey shopping complex collapses in Osun

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –

Three persons have been confirmed dead, while five others were rescued alive after a two-storey shopping complex collapsed at Owode-Ede in Ede North Local Government Area of Osun State.

The incident occurred at Zone 8, Oke Alaafia Community, at about 11:00 p.m. on Friday, prompting a rescue operation by the Federal Fire Service and other emergency responders.

The Federal Fire Service, Osun State Command, said it received a distress call through its emergency line at about 11:30 p.m. and immediately mobilised its personnel to the scene.

According to a statement issued on Saturday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSF Ojo Omoyemi Olamide, the five rescued victims were evacuated to Idera Specialist Hospital, Ede, for urgent medical attention, while the three bodies recovered were handed over to the Nigeria Police Force, A Division, Ede.

“The incident involved a two-storey shopping complex used for commercial purposes. The building consists of six shops on the upper floor, six shops on the middle floor and two stores on the ground floor, covering an area of about 50m by 100m,” the statement read.

“Preliminary investigation reveals that structural defects and the use of substandard materials are suspected to be the cause of the collapse.”

The Command said the rescue operation was completed and its personnel returned to the station at about 9:26 a.m. on Saturday. It added that the estimated property loss was N100 million, while property worth approximately N150 million was saved.

The operation was conducted in collaboration with the Osun State Fire Service, Ede Station; a team of the Nigeria Police Force from A Division, Ede, led by SP Bamidele; and personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) from Owode-Ede Division, led by CSC Oyekunle.