A 27-year-old citizen of Niger Republic, Aliyu Salisu, was rescued alive after being trapped for nearly 10 hours beneath the rubble of a collapsed three-storey building in the Lifecamp area of Abuja.
The incident occurred on Saturday evening, with rescue teams working tirelessly through the night to reach the victim.
Confirming the development, spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory, Police Command, Josephine Adeh, said a distress call was received at approximately 6:15 p.m. on August 2, prompting an immediate emergency response.
“In response to the alert, the Divisional Police Officer of Lifecamp led a coordinated operation involving multiple agencies including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), FCT Development Control, Zeberced Construction Company, and Julius Berger Nigeria Plc,” Adeh explained.
She added, “At about 4:00 a.m. on August 3, Mr. Aliyu Salisu was successfully rescued from the debris and immediately transported to Cedar Crest Hospital, Gudu, for treatment. Fortunately, he is responding well to medical care.”
The cause of the building collapse has not yet been established, but investigations are expected to follow.
Commissioner of Police in the FCT, Ajao Adewale, who visited the site during the rescue, praised the swift and collaborative efforts of emergency responders and community volunteers.
“The quick action by our officers and the support from partner agencies and concerned citizens made this rescue possible. We urge residents to continue reporting emergencies promptly, as our control room lines remain active 24/7,” CP Adewale said.
The public can reach the FCT Police Command through the emergency numbers 0803 200 3913 and 0806 158 193.