Scores Fear Dead, Others Injured As Warehouse Collapses In Niger

Naija News

Kindly share this story:

Scores of people, according to residents, have died in the Sabon Gari region of Minna, Niger State, following the collapse of a one-story warehouse, with many others trapped inside the structure.

It was reported that two trailer loads of soft drinks were being unloaded, with over 50 individuals inside the warehouse, when the collapse occurred on Friday at the bustling Kasuwan Gwari Market.

An eyewitness who spoke to The PUNCH, Aliyu Umaru, recounted that concerned citizens swiftly gathered around the collapsed building to aid in the rescue efforts for the injured and trapped victims.

Umaru described the harrowing scene, mentioning that some individuals were rescued lifeless, while others with severe injuries were promptly taken to the hospital in critical condition. He expressed doubts about the survival of one particular victim who was struggling for breath as he was being transported to the medical facility.

Umaru disclosed that the building, originally a residential structure, had been converted into a warehouse by its owner, a native of Kano State, without implementing the necessary modifications to suit its new purpose.

However, the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) confirmed the incident in a statement but argued that no fatalities had occurred at the time of the incident report.

The Director General of NSEMA, Abdullahi Baba-Arah, confirmed the incident in a statement made available to journalists on Friday night and said the building would be demolished.

Baba-Arah also said no approval was received for the conversion of the building from a residential property to a warehouse.