A nursing mother and her five-month-old baby were injured early Saturday morning when an uncompleted three-storey building collapsed in Umuahia, the capital of Abia State.
The incident occurred around 3 a.m. at the Federal Low Cost Housing Estate, Ohobo Afara, along Olokoro Road. The collapsed structure also damaged a nearby bungalow where a family of seven resided.
Miraculously, five other family members in the bungalow escaped unharmed. However, the mother, her infant, and one other individual sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment at a private hospital.
📸 Caption: Scene of the collapsed three-storey building in Umuahia, Abia State, on Saturday, July 26, 2025. | Photo Credit: Sunday Nwakanma
Eyewitnesses told journalists that the building had shown signs of caving in before its final collapse. One of the residents, Mr. Ugwumba Shedrack, and another survivor, Nkechi Uzochi, confirmed the incident happened while they were asleep.
Security guard Mr. Babayu Adamu added that previous structural issues had prompted some reinforcement measures. He noted, however, that there were no recent visible signs of instability before the roofed building gave way.
Officials from the Umuahia Capital Development Authority (UCDA) have since sealed the site. The General Manager of UCDA, Mr. Kingsley Agomoh, who visited the scene, expressed relief that no lives were lost. He confirmed that investigations are underway to determine the cause of the collapse and ensure appropriate sanctions for any negligence.
“We are thankful lives were saved. But there will be accountability,” Mr. Agomoh said, stressing the need for stricter building regulations and enforcement.
In a worrying development, two other three-storey buildings on the same premises are also reportedly showing signs of structural compromise.
