Tragedy struck the bustling Sabon Gari area of Minna, as a one-storey warehouse collapsed, trapping many individuals inside.
While initial reports suggested multiple fatalities, the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) later confirmed that, at the time of the report, there were no deaths.
However, the chaotic scene unfolded as two trailer loads of soft drinks were being offloaded, with over 50 people inside the warehouse at the time of the collapse.
Eyewitnesses described a harrowing scene, with concerned citizens rushing to aid those trapped beneath the rubble.
Aliyu Umaru, who witnessed the incident, recounted the frantic efforts to rescue the injured and retrieve the deceased.
“Many people were trapped in the building.
Some were pulled out dead while some seriously injured ones were rushed to the hospital,” Umaru stated, highlighting the severity of the situation.
The building, initially a residential property, had been converted into a warehouse without proper modifications to accommodate its new function.
According to reports, the owner, a native of Kano State, made the conversion without obtaining the necessary approvals, raising questions about the structure’s integrity.
Director-General of NSEMA, Abdullahi Baba-Arah, confirmed the incident, noting that search and rescue operations were swiftly initiated following a distress call.
Despite the absence of fatalities, five individuals were rescued with various degrees of injuries, while two others escaped unharmed.
The multi-agency response included NEMA, the State Urban Development Board, and State Environmental Protection Agency, among others.
Investigations revealed that the warehouse was overloaded with soft drinks from approximately 25 trucks, exerting excessive strain on the structure and leading to its collapse.
NSEMA emphasized that the building’s conversion lacked official approval and was constructed using substandard materials.
In response to the incident, the State Urban Development Board ordered the complete demolition of the structure to prevent future tragedies.
