Onitsha building collapse: Death toll rises to five

Five persons have been confirmed dead in the three-storey building that collapsed on Wednesday in Onitsha, Anambra State.

Police spokesman Haruna Mohammed, in a statement, said: “On May 22, about 3pm, a building under construction at No 9 Ezenwa Street, Onitsha, belonging to one Ikebu Aso, collapsed.

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“Police patrol teams and sister agencies rushed to the scene and cordoned off the area to checkmate miscreants and criminals from looting. Three casualties, whose identities are yet to be ascertained, were rescued alive from the rubbles and rushed to the General Hospital, Onitsha, by the Red Cross, while two others were certified dead by the doctor. Their bodies have been deposited at the mortuary for autopsy and rescue operations are ongoing.”

Mohammed added that the case was being investigated to ascertain circumstances surrounding the incident.