Landlady, 14-Year-Old Daughter Die as Three-Storey Building Collapses in Okpoko

OKPOKO, Anambra State — A landlady, Mrs. Happiness Ugoagu, and her 14-year-old daughter, Chikaima, have died after a three-storey building under construction collapsed at Anata Anaba, Okpoko, in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The tragic incident reportedly occurred at about 9:45 p.m. on Thursday when the collapsing structure fell onto a nearby bungalow, trapping the mother and daughter inside their bedroom.

Residents said they had previously raised concerns about the construction, citing the waterlogged nature of the land. They also alleged that an engineer initially associated with the project had advised that the building should not exceed two floors, but the recommendation was allegedly ignored.

Narrating the incident, Chimobi Ugoagu, the deceased woman's son, said three members of his family were at home when the building collapsed. According to him, he was outside while his siblings were in the sitting room, leaving their mother and younger sister in the bedroom.

Chimobi further claimed that he had warned the developer about the potential dangers and joined other residents in calling for construction work to be stopped. However, he said their concerns were not heeded.

Following the incident, the Anambra State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Chijioke Ojukwu, visited the scene alongside the member representing Ogbaru One Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Noble Igwe.

The commissioner expressed sadness over the loss of lives and suggested that the use of substandard building materials might have contributed to the collapse. He also stated that the authorities had previously issued a stop-work order to the developer.

Ojukwu described the building as unauthorised and ordered its demolition. He further directed that other structures allegedly being constructed without the necessary approvals in the area should also be removed.

The incident has renewed concerns over building safety, compliance with approved construction standards and the enforcement of development regulations in Anambra State.

Residents and stakeholders are expected to look to the relevant authorities for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collapse and measures to prevent similar tragedies.