Nasarawa: 1 dead, 3 injured as old building collapses on family

A four-year-old girl died while three other people were injured after a 30-year-old mud house collapsed on a family in Tudun Amba area of ​​Lafia, Nasarawa state.

The accident occurred around 2am on Thursday, shortly after rain fell in the community.

The two-room building was reportedly occupied by six people from two families when it suddenly collapsed, trapping the occupants inside.

Family trapped in a building

An eyewitness, Kefas Abu Danjuma, who is the deceased child’s uncle, said one of the rooms was occupied by his uncle and his three children, while his brother, his wife and their two children occupied the second room.

Danjuma said his uncle and his children were injured in the collapse, but their injuries were not considered serious.

However, his brother’s four-year-old daughter died in the accident.

He added that the family’s two-year-old daughter sustained serious injuries and was initially taken to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lafia, before being referred to the University Teaching Hospital, Jos for further treatment.

“The building housed six people: the first room was occupied by my uncle and his three children, while the second was occupied by my brother, his wife and two children.

“My uncle and his children sustained injuries, but they are not that serious. My brother lost his four-year-old daughter, while his two-year-old daughter is fighting for her life,” he said.

The deceased child was then buried, while the other victims were admitted to the emergency room of Lafia hospital at the time of the report.

Flooding and erosion blamed for collapse

Danjuma attributed the incident to the prolonged effects of flooding and erosion in the area, claiming that residents had been battling the problem for about 12 years without significant government intervention.

He appealed to the government to urgently address the environmental challenges facing the community and provide assistance to affected families.

“We have been suffering from this problem for about 12 years. No one has come to check how the roads are. We need the government’s help,” he said.

He added that the family needs support for the injured victims and assistance for the damage caused by the building collapse.

The community raises the alarm

Tudun Amba community youth president Jonathan Ovye Kuje said residents received a distress call shortly after the building collapsed.

Kuje described the incident as shocking, especially the death of the four-year-old girl, and prayed for the recovery of the two-year-old girl who was admitted to the University Hospital, Jos.

He warned that more buildings could collapse if urgent measures are not taken to address the worsening condition of roads, drainage ditches and erosion in the area.

According to him, the deterioration of the road network has made it difficult for residents to access their homes, while erosion has continued to weaken buildings and other structures.

“People living on the street can’t even access their homes because the road is collapsing. People are unable to use their motorcycles to reach their homes, and most of the buildings are being eaten away by erosion,” he said.

Kuje appealed to the government to build adequate drainage channels to control the flow of rainwater and prevent further destruction of homes and infrastructure.

Attempts to obtain comments from the relevant authorities were unsuccessful at the time of submission of the report.