The death toll from the collapsed building at Ojodu-Berger, Lagos, has risen to eight after rescuers discovered two more bodies from the rubble on Monday, April 21, 2025. This brings the total number of confirmed deaths to eight, following the collapse of the three-story uncompleted structure on Saturday, April 19, 2025, which had earlier claimed six lives and injured several others, with 20 survivors rescued.
The scene of the incident was filled with intense emotions as numerous sympathizers gathered, many of whom were overcome with grief. The building’s collapse occurred when construction had recently resumed on the top floor. Officials from the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) continued working at the site, using excavators to clear debris and load it onto trucks.
The building’s owner, Mariam Omotanwa Salua, CEO of Equal Rights Restaurant, had allegedly started renovations without informing the necessary regulatory bodies. The two bodies discovered on Monday were reportedly staff members of Equal Rights Restaurant. Survivors, primarily adult females, are currently receiving treatment at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). The Lagos State government has arrested the building’s owner, Mr. Sani Salau, who is expected to face legal consequences.
A resident expressed concern about a 22-year-old restaurant worker, Ayomide Adebola, who is feared to be trapped. A disc jockey who survived the incident recounted noticing a shifting pillar and falling blocks, prompting him to raise an alarm. He rushed upstairs to warn others, but some didn’t take him seriously, and he left with a few people just before the building collapsed.
The Chairman of the All Ojodu Communities Development Association criticized LASBCA for failing to properly oversee the building’s condition, arguing that it should have been marked for demolition. Meanwhile, scavengers attempting to remove reinforcement bars from the wreckage were stopped by police and LASBCA officials, with only a designated truck allowed to remove the iron bars.
