One dead, eight injured as containers fall on shanties

A 40-year-old woman Ngozi Nwankwo, was yesterday crushed to death when five containers fell on some makeshift structures in Ijora Badia, a slum in Lagos. More than eight persons were injured in the incident, which happened near the Ijora rail line.  It was gathered that the containers, were being offloaded at the

SIFAX Ijora Depot when they were blown away by the wind that preceded yesterday’s rainfall.

Eyewitnesses claimed the containers fell because the labourers offloading them were drunk after attending the depot owner’s birthday party before resuming work shortly after midnight.

Rescuers comprising the Police, Lagos Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Fire Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) have rescued those trapped underneath the containers.

It was gathered that the late Nwankwo popularly known as Ezinne in the neighbourhood came out at about 5:30am when one container fell on a nearby shanty but rushed back inside to dress up.

Her unclad body was recovered with her head shattered; she was holding her mobile phone.

The injured include Anderson Nwachukwu, 32; Jide James; Ayinu Ayoola; Babatunde Ayetomowo, Ife, Bukky and Aina.

 It was gathered that an unidentified young man who was rushed to the hospital alongside three others, was vomiting blood when he was rescued.

The Nation gathered that the Police Railway Command in Apapa invited the depot manager for questioning. Some of the victims have also made statements.

Police spokesperson Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent (SP), some of the rescued were taken to hospital, adding that investigation will be conducted to ascertain the cause of the mishap.

LASEMA General Manager Michael Akindele said the containers fell on adjoining illegal structures by the railway line, blaming the cause on operational error.

Akindele said: “Investigation conducted by the agency’s ERT (Emergency Response Team) at the incident scene revealed the containers fell on adjoining illegal shanties due to operational error during relocation of the containers within the premises overnight.

 “Further assessment revealed that operational activities were carried out without flood lights and operational safety procedures.

 “Two adult male sustained bodily injuries and have been treated by LASAMBUS. Unfortunately one adult female was taken out and confirmed dead by the agency. She was identified as Ezinne. The body has been handed over to the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU). Proper investigation would be conducted by relevant agencies on the matter. Companies need to ensure adequate safety measures are put in place during operational activities.”

Source:The Nation