All eight construction workers trapped in a collapsed building in the Ebute-Metta area of Lagos have been rescued alive after a dramatic overnight search-and-rescue operation.
The incident occurred on Friday night when a four-storey building under construction at 333 Borno Way, Alagomeji, suddenly caved in at about 7:46 p.m., leaving workers trapped beneath the rubble.
Emergency agencies, including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the National Emergency Management Agency, and other responders, immediately mobilised to the scene.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Deputy Comptroller of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Olajide Ogabi, confirmed that the rescue operation had been completed without fatalities.
“Three workers were pulled out alive shortly after the collapse. By Saturday morning, all eight men who had been reported trapped were successfully rescued,” Ogabi said.
“The operation reached ground zero, and thankfully no lives were lost. Evacuation of the rubble is still ongoing,” he added.
NEMA also corroborated the development in a post on its official X handle, stating that the collapse occurred around 8:30 p.m. on Friday and that “all trapped victims have now been accounted for.”
Residents of Ebute-Metta, who trooped to the scene, expressed both relief and concern. A trader in the area, Mrs. Olamide Ajayi, said:
“We thank God nobody died this time, but the government must look into why buildings keep falling in this community. People are scared to live here.”
The incident has once again raised fears about recurring building collapses in Lagos, particularly in Ebute-Metta, which has recorded multiple tragedies in recent years.
In May 2022, a three-storey structure in the same community collapsed, killing at least 10 people, including a corps member.
Preliminary findings by emergency officials suggest that structural weakness and possible use of substandard materials may have contributed to Friday’s collapse.
The Lagos State Government has repeatedly vowed to enforce stricter supervision of construction projects to curb unsafe practices.
