2 Killed As Storey Building Collapses

A 2-storey building under construction in Democracy Estate in Abakaliki, Abonyi State yesterday collapsed, killing two people.

Another victim is on danger list at Federal Medical Centre, Abakaliki.

The building which collapsed around 5:30 p.m. trapped at least three workers.

The building belongs to Chinedu Ogah, a PDP youth leader in Ebonyi State.

Rescue operations were, however, slow because the owner of the building is a prominent political figure in the state.

A man who wanted to take the picture of the building was beaten by thugs loyal to the youth leader.

There was no presence of policemen, ambulance, light and medical personnel for some hours. This, however, made the rescue operation slow.

The corpse of one of the dead victims, a relation of the owner of the building, Mr. Chibueze Ogah, has been deposited at Federal Medical Centre Mortuary in Abakaliki.

The rescue operation lasted till 10 p.m. Police were later called in by Mr. Chinedu Ogah after a trapped victim had been brought out.

—Cyril Alobu/Abakaliki