Tragedy strikes Abuja as three-floor structure crumbles, claiming five lives and leaving 11 injured

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By Omeiza Ajayi, ABUJA

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At least five persons were killed and 16 others rescued after a three-storey building under construction caved in at the Gudu district of Abuja in the early hours of Saturday, with emergency responders still combing through the rubble for additional survivors.

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The building, located behind Gudu Market near Gaduwa Estate in the Durumi 3 area, came down at approximately 3:30 am, trapping an unknown number of people — most of them labourers working on the structure — beneath the debris.

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Of the 16 persons pulled from the rubble, 11 were taken alive to the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, Asokoro District Hospital and Maitama Hospital for treatment, while five others did not survive.

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The Federal Capital Territory FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Federal Fire Service, the FCT Fire Service and the FCT Police Command were all on the ground, supported by health workers and local volunteers, as anxious residents gathered around the cordoned site.

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FCT Mandate Secretary for Health Services and Environment, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, who visited the scene, said FCT Minister Nyesom Wike had directed that all casualties receive free medical treatment.

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The FEMD Head of Public Affairs, Nkechi Isa, confirmed the figures in a press release on Saturday morning, describing search and rescue operations as ongoing, with responders working against time to reach anyone still trapped beneath the collapsed structure.

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