Man crushed to death as staircase of abandoned building collapses in Rivers

A man was crushed to death when a staircase in an abandoned one-storey building collapsed on him.

The building, located at Elechi Street in the Mile 3 axis of Diobu in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has been abandoned for a while and has weeds growing all around it.

Speaking on the incident, the Chief Security Officer of Nkpolu Oroworukwo Mile 3 Diobu, Godstime Ihunwo, said he received information around 6.15 pm on Wednesday, Nov. 8, that some hoodlums were in the building smoking substances believed to be hard drugs.

Ihunwo said, “Based on the fresh complaints by residents of 38 Elechi Streets, Mile 3 Diobu, Port Harcourt where hoodlums usually go and smoke hard drugs, I quickly mobilised my men to the scene.

“On getting to the scene, the hoodlums had left the abandoned building. But while we were searching, we saw a lifeless body of a man.

“We also observed that the staircase of the abandoned one-storey building collapsed on the deceased. We quickly raised the alarm which drew the attention of residents of the area who came to the scene.

“We quickly informed the Nkpolu Divisional Police headquarters in Mile 3 Diobu, on the development.”