Newly married 16-year-old die in building collapse

Faizan Muritala, a 16-year-old girl, on Tuesday died after their residential building collapsed in Lagos.

The incident occurred at their makeshift building located in a swampy area at Kuata Area by Amara Olu Street, Mechanic Village, Agidingbi, Ikeja.

24 hours after the incident, a mosque situated at 3, Adepitan Street, off Ramat Crescent, Ojudu, equally collapsed, albeit partially.

Faizan's death occurred barely 10 days after she married her husband, Mohammed, who alongside the deceased’s mother, Hawa, narrowly escaped death.

The heavy downpour which began on Sunday is said to have affected many defective structures, forcing the state government to issue evacuation notices to residents.

According to eyewitnesses, the deceased who was inside one of the shanties at the time of the incident, was trapped under the mud.

It was learnt that of about 30 structures in the area, only four were destroyed by the mudslide.

Residents claimed the deceased’s husband and mother were outside when the incident occurred and their screaming made other occupants to flee their shanties.

Confirming the incident, the General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Michael Akindele and Southwest spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ibrahim Farinloye, said the state Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, who visited the scene, has ordered the demolition of the other structures, insisting that the area was not habitable.

He warned residents of flood prone communities to relocate to upland areas until after the heavy rains to avert loss of lives.