Seven Artisans Trapped As Shopping Complex Crumbles In Osun, Three Confirmed Dead

Three persons have been confirmed dead, while four others sustained serious injuries following the collapse of a multi-storey shopping complex in Owode-Ede, Ede North Local Government Area of Osun State.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the incident occurred at approximately 11 p.m. on Friday, trapping seven artisans working at the construction site beneath the debris.

The victims were reportedly apprentice tilers who had travelled from Ejigbo, Osun State, to work on the building before the tragic incident.

Sources at the scene disclosed that the artisans had continued working late into the night before deciding to sleep at the construction site, with plans to resume their duties on Saturday morning.

However, the structure reportedly collapsed while they were resting, leaving them trapped beneath the rubble. Their supervisor was said to have been absent from the site when the incident occurred.

There were also concerns about the condition of the building before the collapse, with sources alleging that the structure had shown signs of poor condition and raising questions about its structural integrity.

The shopping complex was reportedly designed to accommodate 12 shops across its second and third floors, while two additional stores were located in the basement.

Sources further alleged that the construction work was carried out without adequate engineering supervision, claiming that the building’s owner personally oversaw the project and handled the purchase of construction materials. These claims have not been independently verified.

The building owner’s residence was reportedly situated behind the shopping complex.

A video circulating after the incident showed the structure reduced to rubble, with construction debris scattered across the site as emergency responders worked to assist the victims.

Personnel of the Federal Fire Service and other emergency agencies were seen at the scene carrying out rescue operations and providing assistance to those affected.

While three of the trapped artisans were confirmed dead, the remaining four sustained varying degrees of injuries.

As of the time of filing this report, the exact cause of the collapse had not been independently established. Authorities had also yet to release an official statement providing further details about the incident, including the identities of the deceased and the condition of the injured survivors.