A building collapsed in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, on Monday night, hours after the Development Control Department sealed the structure and ordered occupants to vacate.
The FCT Police Command said it received a distress call about the collapse at about 7:45pm and deployed a response team to the scene.
The team was led by the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, ACP Edward Akaniyene, and the Area Commander, Metro, ACP Georgelyn Ufomadu.
According to a statement by the command’s spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, the police joined personnel from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Federal Fire Service (FFS), Security Service Department, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and other emergency agencies in the search and rescue operation.
The police said no victim had been confirmed as of the time of the statement, while rescue teams continued searching the site to determine whether anyone was trapped under the rubble.
Preliminary findings by the command showed that the building had earlier been marked and sealed by the Department of Development Control.
The police said investigations were underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the collapse and establish its possible cause.
“Further details on the extent of damage will be communicated in due time,” the command said.
The police urged residents to remain calm and avoid the affected area to allow emergency responders to carry out their operations.
It also called on members of the public to report suspicious activities and emergencies through the command’s emergency lines.
