Eight workers were rescued following the collapse of a three-storey building under construction in Jikwoyi Phase 1, Abuja, on Friday morning, prompting an immediate emergency response from the Federal Capital Territory Police Command. The incident occurred around 9:00 a.m., after a distress call was received by police, who then mobilized personnel and equipment to the site. SP Josephine Adeh, spokesperson for the FCT Police, confirmed the rescue of the eight individuals and stated that search and rescue operations were ongoing to locate any additional persons possibly trapped under the rubble. Emergency teams, including firefighters and medical personnel, joined the police at the scene to assist in evacuation and provide medical care to the injured. No official figures on fatalities or injuries were released at the time of reporting. The cause of the collapse remains under investigation, with no immediate information on the construction company or permits involved. Residents reported hearing a loud crash shortly before emergency sirens arrived. The site has been cordoned off as structural engineers assess the debris for safety. Further updates are expected as the operation progresses.
When SP Josephine Adeh says eight workers were rescued, it means at least that many were trapped in a building that should never have been occupied during construction. The fact that the collapse happened without warning points to a failure in oversight, not just engineering. In Abuja, where unchecked construction is common, this incident exposes how little enforcement exists for building codes — and how easily lives become collateral.
