Collapsed building traps many in Abuja

Four people were pulled out alive by rescue workers within hours of the incident and rushed in ambulances to nearby hospitals, while voices were heard under the rubble calling for help and making phone calls.
Two female workers of a relaxation spot were seen wailing and showing rescue officials where people were trapped in the collapsed building. One of them put the figure of those still trapped at 13.Residents within the area alleged that the building named ‘Mimshack Arena,’ belongs to a policeman.
Emeka Ikechuckwu, a resident, said some customers were drinking at the bar, while construction work was going on when the building caved in, adding that the pub had become fully operational with Wednesdays designated as ‘Ladies Nite’, with other days having different programmes.
Celestine, another resident, put the time of the incident at 10 am and said as at 3.30 pm, only four people had been rescued.He said when the incident occurred people ran, thinking it was a bomb until they saw rescue workers converging at the place before they rushed back to assist with.One rescue official complained that buildings around the area were built so closely that rescue vehicles had difficulty getting to the scene of the incident.
Efforts to speak to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), FCT operations coordinator, Mr. Ishaya Chonoko, failed as calls to his phone were not answered. But Weekly Trust learnt that he was at the scene of the building collapse coordinating rescue operations.
However, NEMA information officer, Manzo Eziekiel, said that the building collapsed as a result of an additional floor being constructed.He said they had sent a team to the scene of the incident to rescue people trapped and promised to call back if there was any update.