Rescue operations are ongoing after a three-storey building under construction collapsed in the Jikwoyi Phase 1 area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), leaving several workers injured.
The FCT Police Command confirmed that it received a distress call about the incident at about 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 3, 2026.
According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, alongside the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, immediately mobilized a rescue team to the scene.
“The FCT Police Command, on 3rd April 2026 at approximately 9:00 AM, received a distress call reporting the collapse of a three-storey building under construction in Jikwoyi Phase 1 of the Federal Capital Territory,” the statement read.
Adeh explained that upon arrival, security personnel cordoned off the area while emergency responders commenced a coordinated rescue effort.
“Upon receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, PhD, fcai, alongside the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, promptly mobilized a rescue team to the scene. The area was immediately cordoned off, and a coordinated rescue operation commenced,” she said.
She noted that the rescue operation was later reinforced by officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Nigerian Red Cross, the Federal Fire Service, the Federal Capital Territory Administration, and representatives of CGC Construction Company.
Preliminary findings indicated that 17 workers were present at the construction site when the building collapsed.
“Preliminary investigations reveal that seventeen (17) workers were actively on site at the time of the collapse. So far, eight (8) victims have been rescued from the rubble and rushed to the Sisters of the Nativity Hospital, Jikwoyi, where they are currently receiving medical attention, while nine (9) others escaped from the site unhurt. Rescue operations are still ongoing to locate and extract any other victims who may still be trapped,” the statement added.
The Commissioner of Police has since ordered a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the collapse.
“The Commissioner of Police has ordered a thorough investigation, in collaboration with the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), to ascertain the cause of the collapse. He further stated that all individuals and authorities responsible for the approval, issuance, and inspection of the construction site will be invited for questioning as part of efforts to ensure accountability and prevent future occurrences,” Adeh stated.
The Command also appealed to residents to remain calm while emergency operations continue.
“The Command urges residents to remain calm, remain vigilant, and promptly report emergencies or suspicious activities to the Command’s Control Room via the emergency lines: 08032003913, 08061581938,” the statement concluded.
Emergency responders remain at the scene as efforts continue to ensure that no victim is left trapped under the debris.