Building collapse: Wike orders arrest of landlord, as victims count their losses

Tamarauemi Ebimini

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),Nyesom Wike, has ordered the arrest of the owner of the two-storey building that collapsed on Wednesday night at Lagos Street, Garki Village, Abuja.

The FCT Emergency Management Agency (FCT FEMA) said in a statement that two victims have died, while 37 others were evacuated and taken to the hospital.

Wike, who gave the order when he visited the scene of the incident on Thursday, also asked the Permanent Secretary, FCT Administration, Mr Adesola Olusade, to pay the medical bills of those hospitalised.

The minister also urged the Department of Development Control, FCTA, to urgently resettle the residents of the community.

He urged stakeholders to work with government officials for the interest of everyone.

Earlier, the Director, Development Control, Mr Mukhtar Galadima, explained that the area was unplanned and houses an indigenous community.

Galadima said that the two-storey building was multipurpose, for both residential and commercial use.

The permanent secretary commended security agencies and some contractors who came out in their numbers to render support in evacuating the rubbles and search for more victims.

Meanwhile, some of the victims who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said that they lost their investments and properties to the incident and called for government support.