Three persons have been confirmed dead and four rescued from the two-storey building that collapsed in Eke Oyibo Market, Amawbia in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State on Thursday.
Among those killed in the incident include an official of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
It was reported on Thursday that only one person died while two other persons were rescued. The death toll increased to three on Friday while two more victims were rescued alive.
However, there is growing controversy over the approval of the over 3,000 shops—some completed and others under construction—in the market.
According to the Head Development Control, Awka Capital Development Agency (ACTDA), Mr Charles Ekwunife, most of the buildings have no approval plans.
He said that the staff and officials of the ACTDA were always harassed and attacked by contractors at the site, noting that at some points the contractors used local enforcement agencies to stop the officials from site inspection.
He further explained that when the builders were invited to present their drawings and building plans, they refused and continued the development of the structures.
“They used local law enforcement agents, disregarded several stop work orders and had no building approval from ACTDA.
“We have it on record that the staff of the department of Development Control were attacked by contractors when they come to enforce the laws on building.
“The contactors used law enforcement agencies to stop them from going on site inspections and the contractors refuse to go and obtain approvals from the office of ACTDA.
“The contractors dismissed the stop work mark on those buildings under construction and continued to build,” he said.
Our reporter who visited the site of the collapsed building on Friday morning confirmed that an NSCDC official and a carpenter on site were among the deceased victims, while the identify of the third victim had yet to be identified.
Our correspondent learnt that a little boy miraculously crawled out of the rubble through a narrow space and reported to the rescue team that his mother was trapped inside.
After the boy’s report, the rescue team was compelled to use excavator to clear the rubble and get the woman out of the collapsed building alive.
Immediately after the rescue, the woman was carried away by an ambulance to a health centre almost opposite the market and she was responding to treatment.
At the health centre, the nurse on duty confirmed that the victims were brought there and they had returned to their home after treatment.
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