Mother and teenage daughter killed as building collapses onto Anambra home

A woman and her 14-year-old daughter were killed when a three-storey building under construction collapsed onto their home at Anata Anaba, Okpoko, in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The building fell onto a neighbouring bungalow at about 9:45 p.m. on Wednesday, according to Punch. Channels Television identified the victims as Happiness Ugoagu and her daughter, Chikaima.

The woman’s son, Chimobi Ugoagu, said he was outside while his mother and sister were in their bedroom when the structure collapsed. He alleged that residents had warned the builder about the danger but their concerns were ignored.

Residents said an engineer had advised that the structure should not exceed two storeys because the ground was waterlogged. Punch reported that another engineer was later engaged to continue the project.

Anambra’s Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Chijioke Ojukwu, visited the scene. He blamed the collapse on substandard construction materials and said a stop-work notice had previously been issued on the building.

Ojukwu described the structure as illegal and ordered its demolition. Channels Television reported that the order also covered other unapproved buildings under construction in the area.

Ogbaru council chairman Nnamdi Ifejika called for an investigation and urged residents to report unsafe buildings to the authorities.

Sources: Punch, Channels Television