 |
| Mosque Collapsed site |
Many worshippers were feared dead and several others trapped under rubble after a mosque collapsed in the Papa Ajao area of Mushin, Lagos, on Sunday, May 26, 2024.
The incident occurred in the afternoon during Zuhr (afternoon) prayer. Sahara Reporters learned that the building came down while worshippers were inside, resulting in casualties and injuries. Multiple videos circulating on social media showed rescue efforts and the recovery of bodies from the debris, although the exact number of casualties could not be immediately confirmed at the time of the initial report.
No official statement had been issued by relevant agencies when the breaking news first emerged. Building collapses remain a recurring tragedy in Lagos State, which recorded the highest number of such incidents in Nigeria in previous years. According to the Building Collapse Prevention Guild, Lagos accounted for 20 of the at least 61 building collapses reported across the country in 2022 alone.
Subsequent official updates from emergency responders clarified the cause and casualty figures. Preliminary investigations by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) revealed that an excavator clearing a road or drainage in the area recklessly struck the mosque, a storey building, causing it to collapse as prayer was about to begin or underway.
LASEMA Permanent Secretary Femi Oke-Osanyintolu stated that the agency arrived at the scene around 1:40 p.m. Four victims were immediately rushed to hospital, while about 10 people were trapped beneath the rubble. Search-and-rescue operations involving heavy equipment, including a crane, Hiab, and excavator, were conducted under the supervision of emergency officials.
The final casualty report confirmed three fatalities and seven injured persons with injuries of varying severity. Among the dead was an 11-year-old girl. The collapsed structure was later completely levelled to prevent further hazards. Responding agencies included LASEMA, the Lagos State Fire Service, Nigeria Police, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Lagos State Building Control Agency, FRSC, and other emergency units.
Eyewitness accounts and statements from mosque officials indicated that construction work on the nearby road or gutter had raised concerns days earlier. Residents said the excavator used was larger than appropriate for the location and dug below the foundation level of the mosque, compromising its structural integrity. Some worshippers managed to escape before the full collapse, which limited the potential death toll.
The incident added to public concern over construction safety, regulatory oversight, and the vulnerability of buildings in densely populated areas of Lagos. Community members and religious leaders called for greater accountability from contractors and government agencies involved in road and drainage works near residential and religious structures.
Emergency services continued monitoring the site and providing medical support to the injured in the days that followed. The tragedy once again highlighted the persistent challenge of building collapses in Nigeria’s commercial capital and the need for stricter adherence to safety standards during public works projects.