Kayode Shopekan
NORMALCY appears to be returning, seven days after the disastrous collapse of the 21-storey building in Ikoyi. There is little presence of security operatives, including the Nigerian Army, Lagos State Police, and other security agencies.
However, digging is still ongoing at the scene to ensure that the rubbles are cleared and more bodies recovered. The excavators at the collapsed building scene are busy working round the clock.
So far, 42 bodies have been pulled out; 15 were recovered alive and have been sent to the General Hospital in Marina, while the deceased have been moved to the Morgue. Some of the survivors, who responded to treatment have been discharged.
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As at Monday, there was calm as security personnel, including the Nigeria Police Force, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), were still working round the clock to keep the area safe.
READ ALSO: Ikoyi Building Collapse: Death Toll Rises To 14, Nine Rescued Alive
Prime Business Africa visited the General Hospital at Marina and found that the survivors of the building collapse had been moved from the Emergency building of the hospital to Male Ward C1. Efforts to speak with the survivors did not yield any positive results, but it was gathered that they were being given proper medical attention and responding to treatment.
A brief chat with the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Hakeem Odumosu, revealed that families of the deceased had been encouraged to come forward to identify the bodies of their loved ones. According to him, attention has shifted from the site of the building collapse to the Morgue in Yaba, where families have started identifying the deceased.
He said, “as you can see for yourself, nothing is really happening here again, except for the excavators at work, but our men will remain on ground for security purposes.”
Meanwhile, men of the Police Force have been deployed to IDH, Yaba, to ensure adequate security of the hospital.
