One person has died while two others were rescued alive after a two-storey building partially collapsed in the Aboru area of Lagos State during an apparent manual demolition operation.
The incident occurred around midnight at a property located on Governors Road in Aboru, within the Alimosho area of the state.
The collapse triggered an emergency response after reports indicated that workers had become trapped beneath the debris.
Emergency responders were alerted shortly after midnight, prompting the deployment of a rescue team from the Cappa-Oshodi response unit.
Upon arrival, the responders assessed the scene and confirmed that the structure had collapsed while demolition work was reportedly being carried out manually.
Rescue operations were immediately launched as emergency personnel searched through the rubble for people who might still be trapped underneath.
Two adult men were eventually located and successfully pulled out alive from the debris.
The rescued victims reportedly received immediate medical attention from emergency medical personnel at the scene before being transported to a nearby healthcare facility for further treatment.
Another adult male was found beneath the rubble but was recovered dead.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the dangers associated with demolition and construction activities, particularly when buildings are worked on without adequate professional supervision and safety measures.
Preliminary findings indicated that the structure was undergoing manual demolition when the collapse occurred. However, the full circumstances surrounding the incident will require further investigation before responsibility or any specific breach of safety regulations can be conclusively established.
The affected area was subsequently secured and cordoned off to prevent members of the public from entering the danger zone and to allow emergency personnel to continue their work without obstruction.
Fire and rescue personnel, ambulance workers and other emergency responders were involved in the operation.
Community leaders and security personnel also assisted with securing the location and supporting the emergency response.
The incident has renewed concerns about unsafe building practices in Lagos, where rapid urban development has increased the number of construction, renovation and demolition activities taking place across residential and commercial areas.
Building demolition can become particularly dangerous when structural components are removed without a proper assessment of how the remaining parts of the building will respond.
Improper demolition techniques can cause sections of a structure to collapse unexpectedly, putting workers and people nearby at risk.
Experts have repeatedly stressed the importance of engaging qualified professionals for construction and demolition work and ensuring that safety procedures are followed throughout the process.
The latest incident has also highlighted the importance of residents reporting buildings or construction activities that appear unsafe.
Emergency authorities have urged members of the public to alert the appropriate agencies when they observe dangerous structural conditions or demolition activities that could endanger lives.
Residents are encouraged to use the recognised emergency lines when immediate assistance is required.
For the families of those involved, however, the incident has brought tragedy and uncertainty.
One family is now mourning the death of a loved one, while the two survivors are receiving medical care following their rescue from the collapsed structure.
Authorities are expected to continue assessing the site and gathering information about the circumstances that led to the collapse.
The findings could help determine whether there were violations of approved demolition procedures or other factors that contributed to the structural failure.
The incident also reinforces the need for property owners, developers and contractors to prioritise safety during demolition and construction projects.
As Lagos continues to expand rapidly, enforcement of building regulations and professional standards remains essential to reducing the risk of structural failures and preventing avoidable deaths.
For now, the rescue operation has saved two lives, but the recovery of one person dead from the rubble has left the community grieving.
Further investigations are expected to establish the complete circumstances surrounding the collapse and whether any individual or organisation should be held accountable for the incident.
