A 16-YEAR-OLD girl, Faizan Mohammed was yesterday confirmed dead after their residence collapsed in Lagos.
The incident occurred around 9am at Kuata Area by Amara Olu Street, Mechanic Village, Agidingbi in ikeja.
It was gathered that their makeshift residence, located in a swampy area, collapsed following a mudslide.
She died barely 10 days after her marriage to Mohammed, who escaped death by the whiskers alongside her mother, Hawa.
The collapse occurred less than 24 hours after the partial collapse of a Mosque, situated on 3, Adepitan Street, off Ramat Crescent, Ojudu.
It was gathered that the heavy downpour that began on Sunday has affected many defective structures, forcing the state government to issue evacuation notices to residents of flood prone communities.
According to eyewitnesses, the deceased, who was inside one of the shanties, was trapped under the mud.
It was learnt that of about 30 structures located in the area, only four were destroyed by the mudslide.
Residents claimed that the deceased’s husband and mother were outside when the incident occurred and their screaming made other occupants to flee their shanties.
Speaking at the scene, Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, ordered squatters living in the shanties around Amara-Olu community to vacate the area immediately.
Adejare said the government will no longer condone lawlessness and watch its people die due to avoidable disasters.
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 Adejare, who visited the scene has ordered the demolition of the other structures, insisting that the area was unsuitable for habitation.
Akindele warned residents of flood prone areas to relocate to upland until after the heavy rains to avert loss of lives.
All buildings in the area were demolished. The residents, shop owners and mechanics were forced to pack their belongings and vacate the area.
Some of them had their belongings already demolished before they could pack them out.
A generator mechanic in the area, Mr Anthony Imeri, from Delta State, said the whole incidence was a surprise to him.
“I was at work on the Island when I received a call on what was happening here, but before I could get here, my shop has being demolished. I could not pick anything. It is sorrowful, “he said.
An auto-mobile mechanic said he never had a prior notice that they should not work in the area.
He said: “This government has rendered me jobless. I will have to start all over again. I will survive but life will be difficult in the meantime.”
The mechanic said he hoped that the government will relocate them to another place.
A resident in the area, who pleaded for anonymity, said that the demolition of their homes without a prior notice was unfair.
“As you can see, they told us to pack our load into the bus, we don’t know where they are taking our properties to. I don’t know where I will sleep tonight, I am sad”, she said, as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Source:The Nation
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Society