Abia building collapse: More tears as death toll rises to three
Two corpses were, on Thursday, pulled out of the rubble of the three-storey building that collapsed in Aba, Abia State, on Wednesday.
A body was recovered at the scene of the collapse on Wednesday with many feared trapped in the rubble.
As a consequence of the incident, the state government declared wanted the developer of the property, Mr Emmanuel Ohaka, which was under construction as of the time of the collapse.
The Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi-Kalu, said in a statement that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu had directed the state Commissioner of Police, Mrs Janet Agbede, to ensure the immediate arrest and prosecution of Ohaka and the site engineer, Mr Bassey Afokwalam, who is already in custody.
The governor also ordered the immediate suspension of the Executive Secretary, Aba Town Planning Authority, Mr Okezie Ahutionye.
Ikpeazu, who visited the site of the collapsed building, expressed deep sadness over the incident and expressed shock at the low quality materials used in constructing the building and directed the state Ministry of Land, Planning and Survey to improve its supervision of construction sites.
He also condemned those who embark on construction of buildings without obtaining proper approvals, warning them to desist from such or face dire consequences. Punch
