A hotel owner, Mr. Andrew Isesere, has died following the collapse of a building under construction in the Idumoza community of Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area, Edo State.
The incident occurred over the weekend while Isesere was reportedly inside the structure. His body was recovered from the rubble by emergency responders on Sunday morning.
The building, which was still under construction, collapsed suddenly, trapping the owner and causing injuries to several construction workers on site. Eyewitnesses said over 20 workers narrowly escaped death, with some sustaining various degrees of injury. Locals were the first to provide aid before emergency services arrived.
Preliminary accounts from residents and community members point to possible structural failings, citing the use of substandard building materials and lack of professional supervision. A local resident, Mr. Andrew Inegbebor, alleged that the late owner personally managed the project without hiring qualified engineers.
“He was advised several times about the quality of materials being used,” Inegbebor said. “Instead of using 16mm rods, he used 12mm. The pillars lacked base baskets. The whole structure was weak.”
The collapse has sparked concerns about construction safety practices in the area. Many residents expressed sadness over Isesere’s death, particularly given prior warnings about the integrity of the building.
Efforts to obtain an official statement from the Edo State Police Command were unsuccessful as the Police Public Relations Officer, Moses Yamu, said he had not yet been briefed on the incident.
