One person has died and two others have been rescued after a two-storey building undergoing manual demolition collapsed in the Aboru area of Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday, September 10, 2026, at No. 42, Governor’s Road, Aboru, where workers were reportedly carrying out demolition activities when the structure suddenly gave way.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed the incident, saying its emergency response team was mobilised to the scene after receiving a distress call at about 12:56 a.m.
According to the Agency, its Alpha Eagle Response Team from the Cappa, Oshodi Response Unit was immediately dispatched to the location. On arrival, emergency responders discovered that several workers had been trapped beneath the rubble.
LASEMA said it activated the State’s emergency response plan and assumed coordination of the rescue operation, with other emergency agencies joining the effort to search through the debris for survivors.
Two adult men were eventually rescued alive from beneath the collapsed structure.
Personnel of the Lagos State Ambulance Service, LASAMBUS, administered first aid to the rescued men at the scene before they were transported to a nearby health facility for further medical attention. Their conditions were not immediately disclosed.
The rescue operation, however, also resulted in the recovery of the body of another adult male from underneath the debris.
The Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed the death and expressed condolences to the family of the deceased while wishing the rescued victims a speedy recovery.
Building Collapsed During Manual Demolition
Preliminary findings by LASEMA indicated that the building did not collapse while occupied as a completed residential structure but gave way during manual demolition work.
The Agency said the circumstances surrounding the incident reinforced the need for demolition projects to be properly planned and carried out by qualified professionals, particularly when dealing with structures that may already have been weakened or become unstable.
The rescue operation involved personnel from LASEMA, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and the Lagos State Ambulance Service.
The affected area was also cordoned off to protect residents and provide emergency workers with sufficient access to the site. Security agencies and community leaders were said to have assisted the emergency responders during the operation.
The incident has once again raised concerns about safety during building construction and demolition activities in Lagos, a State that has experienced several cases of structural collapse over the years.
LASEMA urged developers, property owners and members of the public to comply with approved building regulations and ensure that construction and demolition work is handled by certified professionals.
Oke-Osanyintolu also advised residents to report suspicious or unsafe building activities to the emergency agency through the 767 and 112 toll-free emergency lines.
Lagos Records Another Building Collapse
The Aboru incident adds to a series of building-related emergencies recorded in Lagos in recent months.
On June 26, 2026, a three-storey building in the Alakija area of Satellite Town, Lagos, collapsed, leaving several people trapped. According to a report, eight people, including a baby, died in that incident, while 26 others were rescued.
Building collapses have remained a major public safety concern in Lagos, with authorities repeatedly warning property owners, developers and contractors against violating approved building standards.
Beyond the loss of lives, such incidents can leave survivors with serious injuries while also exposing nearby residents, passers-by and emergency responders to additional risks.
The latest collapse in Aboru is particularly significant because it occurred during demolition work. Demolition activities can create additional hazards when structural weaknesses are not properly assessed before work begins or when unqualified personnel are engaged.
LASEMA has therefore continued to stress the importance of using certified professionals for both construction and demolition projects.
The Agency also said the Lagos State Government remains committed to strengthening its emergency response capacity through improved equipment, training and the decentralisation of response units.
According to the Agency, these measures are aimed at helping emergency responders maintain a response time of about 10 minutes across Lagos State.
At the Aboru site, emergency responders continued their search and recovery efforts after the two survivors had been removed from the rubble. Authorities were also working to ensure that the area remained safe for residents and that emergency personnel could complete their operations without obstruction.
The exact circumstances that led to the building’s collapse during the demolition exercise are expected to form part of the authorities’ assessment of the incident.
For now, the confirmed toll stands at one person dead and two rescued alive.
The incident has again highlighted the potentially deadly consequences of unsafe demolition practices and the need for strict adherence to building regulations, professional supervision and adequate safety measures whenever structures are being constructed, altered or brought down.