No fewer than 16 persons have been rescued alive, while two others were recovered dead following the collapse of a two-storey residential building in the Satellite Town area of Lagos State.

The latest update was provided by the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, LSFRS, on Thursday as emergency responders continued search and rescue operations at the scene of the incident.

DAILY POST had earlier reported that the agency received a distress call at about 11:37 a.m. concerning the building collapse on Old Ojo Road, by Alakija Bus Stop, off the Lagos-Badagry Expressway in Satellite Town, Lagos.

According to the agency, emergency responders from the Ijegun-Egba Fire Station were immediately mobilised to the scene, arriving at about 11:49 a.m. to commence rescue efforts.

The collapsed structure was identified as a residential two-storey building occupied by several residents at the time of the incident.

In an earlier update, the Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that 10 victims had been rescued alive from the debris with varying degrees of injuries and handed over to medical personnel for treatment.

However, the agency disclosed in its latest update that six additional victims had been successfully rescued from the rubble, bringing the total number of survivors to 16.

The agency also confirmed that two persons were recovered dead from the collapsed building.

“Rescue efforts are still ongoing, and six additional victims have been successfully rescued from the debris bringing the number to 16.

“Regrettably, two persons have been recovered dead,” the statement said.

The Fire and Rescue Service noted that emergency responders remain at the site, working to ensure that all affected persons are accounted for and that the area is secured.

“Search and rescue operations remain ongoing as emergency responders continue efforts to locate, extricate, and evacuate any persons who may still be trapped beneath the debris,” the statement added.

The rescue operation is being coordinated by multiple emergency and security agencies, including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Federal Fire Service, Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Navy, Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, LNSC, and the Nigerian Red Cross Society.

Authorities said rescue operations remain ongoing, adding that further updates would be provided as efforts continue at the scene.

The Lagos Police Command says its investigation has revealed that the explosion in the Mushin area of the state was caused by the failure of a pressurised mechanical component and not an Improvised Explosive Device, IED, or any other criminal act.

The command, in a statement on Thursday, ruled out terrorism, sabotage and the use of explosives.

According to the police, forensic and technical findings revealed no traces of explosive materials, detonators, initiation systems, explosive residues or blast characteristics associated with explosive attacks.

“The investigation has conclusively established that the incident was not caused by an Improvised Explosive Device, IED, terrorist activity, sabotage, or any form of criminal use of explosives.

“Technical findings revealed no traces of explosive materials, detonators, initiation systems, explosive residues, or blast characteristics ordinarily associated with explosive attacks,” the police said.

It added the incident resulted from the catastrophic failure of a pressurised mechanical component located outside the vehicle.

Six suspected drug dealers have been arrested during a joint operation by troops of the 17 Brigade and officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Kafur Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Security sources said the raid was carried out around 1:00 pm on June 24 in Rugoji Village.

The sources told counterinsurgency expert Zagazola Makama that the team arrested six suspects and recovered 4.0 grams of a substance believed to be cannabis and 3.5 grams of tramadol.

The sources alleged that the suspects supplied hard drugs and other illicit substances to terrorist and criminal groups operating in Kafur and nearby communities.

The suspects and the recovered items have been handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and possible prosecution.