Tragedy struck at 10 Oremeta Street, Ojodu, Lagos, on Saturday, April 19, 2025, when a three-storey building housing the Equal Right Restaurant collapsed, resulting in multiple casualties and a dramatic rescue operation.
As of Sunday, April 20, five bodies have been recovered from the rubble, including three females and two adult males. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed that 15 people have been rescued, including six adult females and nine adult males.
Ibrahim Farinloye, the Lagos Territorial Coordinator for NEMA, stated in an official release that rescue operations are still ongoing as emergency workers continue to search the collapsed site. “Rescue operation is ongoing,” Farinloye confirmed, urging residents to stay alert and report any further signs of distress.
The building collapse was reported at 08:32 hours on Saturday, and emergency teams were immediately dispatched to the scene. Initial reports indicated that the collapsed structure had trapped several individuals inside, including restaurant workers, customers, and a family present at the time of the disaster.
One fatality was confirmed earlier, and as emergency crews combed through the wreckage, the death toll rose to five. While the cause of the collapse is still under investigation, the situation has raised serious concerns about the safety of older buildings in the area.
In addition to NEMA, emergency teams from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Services, Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), and the police were seen working together to rescue trapped individuals and secure the site.
Dr. Oluwafemi Oke-Osanyintolu, Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, had previously confirmed that five individuals had been rescued alive. However, the ongoing rescue efforts indicate that more individuals might still be trapped under the rubble.
As rescue operations continue, the focus remains on recovering survivors and determining the cause of the collapse to prevent future tragedies.
