Ikoyi Building Collapse: LASEMA Boss Shares Crucial Information About Victims Rescue Operations
- Evidence proving that all victims of the Ikoyi building collapse in Lagos state died before rescue operations began has been made public
- Oluwafemi Oke-Osayintolu, the director-general of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) made the disclosure
- Oke-Osayintolu on Thursday, January 27, testified that in the course of the rescue operation his agency’s actions did not lead to the death of anyone trapped
No fewer than 40 people who lost their lives in the 21-storey Ikoyi building collapse in Lagos state were already dead before Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) began rescue operations.
The Cable reports that Oluwafemi Oke-Osayintolu, LASEMA director-general, made the disclosure while giving testimony at a coroner’s inquest on Thursday, January 27.
Source: Facebook
According to Oke-Osayintolu, it was impossible for any victim to survive due to the lack of air they would have experienced while trapped under the rubble.
Read also
2023 presidency: Why Tinubu is the most qualified and marketable choice - Sanwo-Olu reveals
He went on to note that heavy life-saving equipment was deployed by LASEMA following a primary assessment, however, it was too late to rescue those who died, Premium Times added.
PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app
The director-general also denied that the agency's actions led to the death of some victims, adding that the rescue operation was done in sections, with the use of drones to detect possible survivors.
Oke-Osayintolu explained that the operations to rescue people trapped in the collapsed building were carried out by both professionals and non-professionals who assisted with the equipment.
Owner of skyscraper trapped inside the rubble
Legit.ng previously reported that a witness to the Ikoyi building collapse said the owner of the skyscraper was trapped with the other victims.
The witness, who identified himself as Morris Ashiru to journalists, said he and some of his friends, came to work at the construction site.
Ashiru said:
“Everybody was working. A lot of people came here from Abuja. The owner of the building is inside. He brought some clients to inspect the building.”
Sanwo-Olu receives panel report on Ikoyi building collapse
Meanwhile, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state on Wednesday, January 5, received the report of the panel investigating the collapse of a 21-storey building in the Ikoyi area of the state.
Recall that the building which was located on Gerrard Road in Ikoyi collapsed on Monday, November 1, 2021.
The building, owned by Fourscore Heights Limited, trapped over 50 persons, including the firm’s managing director, Femi Osibona.
Source: Legit.ng
