LAGOS, June 26, 2026 – Emergency authorities have completed search and recovery operations following the collapse of a two-storey building at Alakija Bus Stop in the Satellite Town area of Lagos, with dozens of victims accounted for after an intensive overnight effort.
The structure caved in at about 12:47 p.m. on Thursday in Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area, prompting a large-scale emergency response.
In a statement issued on Friday by its Head of Public Affairs, Mr. Afolabi Olawale, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said it immediately deployed rescue personnel to the scene.
According to the agency, its Sharks Response Team from the Lekki Base and the Alpha Cobra Squad from Onipanu arrived at the location within 40 minutes alongside other emergency agencies.
The operation involved personnel from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Red Cross and the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).
LASEMA said a total of 27 people were rescued alive from the rubble and received immediate medical attention from LASAMBUS before being transported to nearby hospitals for further treatment.
The agency disclosed that nine fatalities were recorded during the incident. Four victims were confirmed dead before rescue teams arrived, while five others, including a two-year-old girl, were recovered during the operation.
It added that the remains of the deceased were transferred to the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit for identification and subsequent release to their families.
To support rescue efforts, LASEMA deployed a heavy-duty excavator, which worked alongside two additional excavators provided by CCECC to facilitate access to trapped victims beneath the debris.
The agency stated that the operation concluded around 4:00 a.m. on Friday after emergency workers successfully reached the base level of the collapsed structure and completed their search.
LASEMA also noted that the Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, as well as the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, supervised and coordinated activities throughout the emergency response.
According to the agency, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has directed the Lagos State Building Control Agency to conduct immediate structural assessments on neighbouring buildings and ensure strict adherence to building safety regulations within the area.
The agency extended its sympathies to families who lost loved ones in the tragedy and wished those receiving treatment a speedy recovery.
Authorities further appealed to residents to report any distressed or visibly compromised structures to relevant agencies, including LASBCA and LASEMA, through the emergency lines 112 and 767, to help prevent future building disasters across the state.