Ikoyi Skyscraper Tragedy: Death toll hits 44

Just as rescue operations is about to be rounded off at the site of the 21-storey building which collapsed on Gerrard Road, in the Ikoyi area of Lagos State, the death toll in the tragedy has climbed to 44.

According to sources on the ground at the site, “on Sunday that two more bodies were recovered from the rubble, which increased the death toll to 44.”

The source said one of the bodies was recovered around 8pm on Saturday, while the other body was recovered around midnight.

“The recovery operation is still ongoing but should end by Monday morning. The work is about two per cent to completion,” the source added.

The skyscraper, owned by Fourscore Heights Limited, trapped over 50 persons, including the firm’s Managing Director, Femi Osibona; his friend, a United States of America-based Nigerian businessman, Wale Bob-Oseni; his personal assistant, Oyinye Enekwe, and clients.

Other deceased persons included a member of the National Youth Service Corps, identified only as Oyindamola; an aluminium fabricator, Kenneth Otu; an engineer and pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Living Water Parish, Ibafo, Ogun State, Ola Ogunfunwa, among others.

Since the incident happened, family members of victims and sympathisers had thronged the area daily, hoping to see their loved ones alive, while some lamented that they were not allowed to identify their loved ones.

The affected families were, however, granted access on Saturday to find their loved ones among the corpses recovered and deposited in the Lagos Mainland Hospital morgue.

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