Tension gripped the business community in Ibadan on Monday morning as a yet-to-be-identified man reportedly plunged from one of the upper floors of the iconic 26-storey Cocoa House, located in the heart of Oyo State’s capital.
According to The PUNCH, eyewitnesses recounted the horrifying moment. One onlooker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “At first, I thought it was a large bird falling from the sky. It wasn’t until the body hit the ground that I realized it was a person. I was too shocked to even bring out my phone.”
Another witness described the chilling scene: “He first hit the roof close to the security post before landing on the ground. It was something you don’t easily forget.”
Details surrounding the incident remain unclear as of press time, and it is yet to be determined whether the fall was accidental or intentional.
Odu’a Investment Company Limited, the firm managing Cocoa House, has confirmed the incident. In a statement signed by the company’s Head of Branding and Communication, Victor Ayetoro, the organization said the victim was immediately attended to by emergency responders and taken to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, for urgent medical attention.
“The company expresses deep concern over the unfortunate event and is working closely with the appropriate authorities to determine the cause of the fall,” the statement read.
Authorities have begun an investigation to uncover the circumstances leading to the fall. The identity and current condition of the victim remain unknown at the time of filing this report.
Cocoa House, built in 1965, remains one of West Africa’s tallest buildings and a historic landmark in Ibadan.
