Tragedy Strikes Again as Another Building Collapses in Lagos, One Dead, Eight Injured

Barely days after the Oyingbo building tragedy that claimed two lives, another structure has crumbled in Lagos, this time in Ajegunle, Apapa area, leaving one person dead and eight others injured.

The incident, which occurred on Thursday at about 28, Baale Alayabiagba Street, involved a three-storey building with a penthouse that was being manually demolished before it caved in, trapping several workers beneath the debris.

Confirming the development, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said emergency responders raced to the site following distress calls from residents.

“On arrival, our team discovered that the building under manual demolition had collapsed, trapping workers underneath. Eight adult males were rescued, while one was recovered lifeless,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.

He added that the injured were promptly treated by Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) officials before being taken to Ajeromi General Hospital for further medical care.

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service also confirmed the tragedy. Its spokesperson, Shakiru Amodu, described the incident as another “sad reminder of the dangers of unsafe demolition practices and weak structural compliance.”

This latest collapse adds to a disturbing trend of recurring building failures in Lagos. In recent months, the state has recorded multiple cases, including the September 25 collapse in Mangoro where six people were rescued, and the Ebute Metta incident on September 16 where two construction workers were pulled out alive after four days.

Residents of Ajegunle expressed shock and frustration over what they described as government’s slow enforcement of safety regulations and monitoring of demolition projects.

“This keeps happening because no one is held accountable,” said a nearby resident, who lamented that warnings about unsafe demolitions are often ignored until disaster strikes.

As rescue and safety officials continue to monitor the scene, Lagosians are once again left mourning another avoidable tragedy, a grim reminder of the city’s ongoing struggle with building integrity and regulatory enforcement.