A tragic incident unfolded on Sunday when a mosque on Yusuf Street, Papa Ajao, in the Ladipo area of Lagos State collapsed, resulting in three fatalities and seven injuries.
The mosque, bustling with worshippers including children, suddenly gave way just as prayers were about to commence.
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The collapse led to chaos and a desperate rescue effort by sympathizers and emergency responders who rushed to save those trapped under the debris.
According to eyewitnesses, the disaster occurred when an excavator, engaged in clearing silt from the drainages along the road, struck the mosque recklessly.
This impact caused the structure to collapse. The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA), Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyitolu, confirmed the tragic outcome and detailed the rescue efforts.
“Upon arrival at 1:40 PM, we discovered a collapsed storey building. Preliminary investigations indicated that an excavator, in the process of clearing the road, struck the mosque, leading to the collapse,” Dr. Oke-Osanyitolu reported.
Emergency services quickly mobilized to the scene. Four of the injured were transported to the hospital with varying degrees of injuries, while three others received treatment and were discharged on-site.
Unfortunately, three individuals were confirmed dead at the scene.
“One adult was recovered deceased, while others received pre-hospital care from our Pre-Hospital Care Unit,” he said.
“A total of ten people were trapped under the rubble, with one seriously injured victim transferred to the hospital.”
The response team was comprehensive, involving LASEMA, the Lagos State Fire Service, the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA), the Nigeria Police, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS).
